학술논문
WASH practices and its association with nutritional status of adolescent girls in poverty pockets of eastern India
Document Type
article
Author
Aparajita Chattopadhyay; Vani Sethi; Varsha P. Nagargoje; Abhishek Saraswat; Nikita Surani; Neeraj Agarwal; Vikas Bhatia; Manisha Ruikar; Sourav Bhattacharjee; Rabi N. Parhi; Shivani Dar; Abner Daniel; H. P. S. Sachdev; C. M. Singh; Rajkumar Gope; Vikash Nath; Neha Sareen; Arjan De Wagt; Sayeed Unisa
Source
BMC Women's Health, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2019)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1472-6874
Abstract
Abstract Background Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices may affect the growth and nutritional status among adolescents. Therefore, this paper assesses WASH practices and its association with nutritional status among adolescent girls. Methods As a part of an intervention programme, this study is based on baseline cross-sectional data. It was conducted between May 2016–April 2017 in three Indian states (Bihar, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh). From a sample of 6352 adolescent girls, information on WASH practices, accessibility to health services and anthropometric measurements (height, weight and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC)) was collected. Descriptive statistics were used to examine WASH practices, and nutritional status among adolescent girls. Determinants of open defecation and menstrual hygiene were assessed using logistic regression. Association between WASH and nutritional status of adolescent girls was determined using linear regression. Results Findings showed 82% of the adolescent girls were practicing open defecation and 76% were not using sanitary napkins. Significant predictors of open defecation and non use of sanitary napkin during menstruation were non Hindu households, households with poorer wealth, non availability of water within household premise, non visit to Anganwadi Centre, and non attendance in Kishori group meetings. One-third of adolescent girls were stunted, 17% were thin and 20% had MUAC