Physical status, nutrient intake and dietary pattern of adolescent female factory workers in urban Bangladesh

\This cross-sectional study examined the physical status, nutrient intake and dietary pattern of adolescent female factory workers in urban Bangladesh. A total of 1211 postmenarchial girls aged 14-19y from seventeen readymade garment industries spread over the Dhaka City participated in the study. Body weight, height and skin fold thickness were measured for all subjects. The nutrient intake was assessed by 24-h recall method and 7-day food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate their dietary pattern on a sub-sample of 509 girls. Sixty five percent of the girls were short (height-for-age, <3rd percentile of NCHS reference values). Prevalence of short stature was higher in the older girls. Mean body weight was 38kg for the 14 year old girls, which gradually increased across the age groups to about 42 kg for the 18 and 19 year olds. About 17% of the girls were thin (BMI-for-age <5th percentile of NCHS reference values). Over all, about 23% were lean (TSFT-for-age<5th percentile of NCHS reference values). Food intake data revealed a deficit of 1.62 MJ/day in energy. Mean intake of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C were below the recommended dietary allowance. Most of the energy and nutrients came from cereal grains. Habitual pattern of food intake revealed poor intake of eggs, milk, meat, and green leafy vegetables. In conclusion, the data show a poor physical status of the adolescent female factory workers in Bangladesh. Simultaneous substantial deficits in energy and several nutrients in their diet stress the need for an appropriate intervention to improve their overall nutritional and physical status of these young females.