ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls and to investigate its association with socio-economic status, eating and physical activity pattern. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescent girls (15 and 19 years) and stratified random sampling technique was done in 4 schools of Arar city, KSA. Subjects were asked to fill pre-tested questionnaire about socio-economic status, dietary and physical activity pattern and their height and weight were measured and BMI (kg/m2) was calculated. SPSS version 22 (2017) was used in entering, managing survey data and to analyze the obtained data. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant for individual variables. Results: The final study sample consisted of 322 adolescent girls (response rate of 90.96%), with a mean age of 17.14 ± 1.15 years. More than one-fifth of the study population was overweight and obese, moreover, about three-fifth of the study population were of normal weight, while 19.2% were underweight. A significant relationship was observed between nutritional status with the mother’s occupation and education, family size, and a number of meals taken per day. Conclusion: Adolescent’s populations face two contrasting nutrition situations, under and over nutrition. This study will help in generating imperative data and recommendations for managing nutrition-related problems in adolescent girls in Saudi Arabia.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the health risks of solid waste disposal workers and scavengers, involved in the handling and disposal of municipal wastes, especially their cardiovascular health. The study was carried out in Port Harcourt, Nigeria from 2011 to 2013. Male solid waste disposal workers and scavengers (n=100) aged between 19 and 53years who have worked from six months to 15 years in waste disposal industry, were used in this study. Twenty six percent were aged 40 years and above while 74% were aged between 19 to 39 years. These were compared with 100 male subjects of same age group (21 to 50) who were not solid waste disposal workers; they served as the control group. Their blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) were measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer, weight was measured using calibrated electronic scale and height was measured using a Stadiometer. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by the formula (weight/height2). These were used as indices of cardiovascular disease in the volunteers. The level of malaria parasitemia was evaluated. A well-structured questionnaire was given to each volunteer in this study as a behavioral determinant. Mean systolic pressure of the solid waste disposal workers and the control group were 136±13.58 mmHg (Mean ± SD) and 117±12-04 mmHg respectively. The diastolic pressures were 88±12.73 mmHg and 71±10.71 mmHg respectively. This was significant (p<0.01) despite the fact that the solid waste disposal workers had a lower BMI value (24.25±3.19 Kg/M2) than the controls (29.46±3.75 Kg/M2). The increase in blood pressure cuts across duration of exposure, 55.84% of the solid waste disposal workers reported regular alcohol intake, while 43.27% reported current tobacco use against 20% and 7% of the control group. There was no significant difference (p>0.01) when the blood pressures of solid waste disposal workers aged 40 and above was compared with that of 19 to 39 age group. Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was higher in the solid waste disposal workers in comparison to the controls 92% and 69% respectively.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the differences between the lipid profiles of the subjects whose parents are having known non-modifiable risk factors such as obesity, hypertension (HTN), myocardial infarction and diabetes, and compare them with the lipid profiles of the subjects whose parents are not having those risk factors. Methods: A total of 402 subjects were recruited to this study. A detailed questionnaire which included information on the past medical history, height, weight, blood pressure, physical activity, smoke, alcohol, family history of coronary heart disease, HTN, diabetics and obesity. Basic demographic data and dietary habits were completed by all participants. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects after 14 h. Lipid profiles were analyzed using automated analyzer. The results were analyzed using SPSS software packages. Results: The mean body mass index of the population was well below the cut-off value of obesity (>24.5 kg/m