Abstract

"Introduction: Adolescent girls are backbone of healthy and progres-sive family and thus future build-ers of positive health of communi-ty. To attain healthy reproductive outcome and efficient physical ac-tivity nutritional status of adoles-cent girl is valuable. In India espe-cially in rural area there is high prevalence of malnutrition amongst adolescent girls.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the nutri-tional status of adolescent girls in rural area of Bhopal district and to study the socio-demographic fac-tors affecting the nutritional status of adolescent girls in rural area of Bhopal district.
Material & method: A community based cross sectional study was carried out amongst adolescent girls in the age group of 10-19 years. Two Government schools of Ratua village of Bhopal district were selected for study purpose. Study period was from June to Au-gust2013.Total 200 adolescent girls were included. Variables included were age, socio-economical status, weight, Height and dietary intake pattern.
Statistical analysis: Data was ana-lysed using SPSS version 20 statis-tical software and Odds ratio and Chi square test was applied to test the strength of association between the variables.
Result: Amongst all adolescent girls 69% suffered from under nu-trition. Only 31% girls had normal nutritional status. Majority i.e. 87.20% of adolescent girls belong-ing to the age group of 10-14 years were undernourished
Conclusion: Majority of rural ado-lescent girls were under nourished. There was significant association between socio-economic status (SES) and nutritional status of ado-lescent girls. Nutritional status has profound effect on health and school performance of adolescent girls.

Key words: Nutritional status, Adolescent girls, rural area.