Rural adolescents in Uganda - malnutrition and growth

Adolescents are at high nutritional risk, because of increased nutrient requirements for the adolescent growth spurt. In this study, anthropometric (height, weight), dietary (repeated 6 day interactive 24 hour recalls) and questionnaire data were collected, during 2 seasons from 202 (37% F; average age = 13 +/- 2 years) rural adolescents (ethnicity, 50% Sudanic and 50% Nilotic) attending primary schools in north-western Uganda. Stool and urine samples were examined for parasitic infections, and medical examinations were conducted. The majority of the adolescents were in Tanner stage II and III tie, 85%). Parasitic infections (16%), splenomegaly (13%), upper respiratory tract infections (30%) and skin infections (16%) were common. Results showed that the Nilotic adolescents were significantly shorter and heavier than the Sudanics (p<0.0005; 58% vs 10% <-1.65 SD NCHS height-for-age Z-scores & 44% vs 76% <-1.65 SD NCHS BMI-for-age Z-scores), and males were significantly thinner than females (p=0.05). These results raise significant questions regarding the effects of dietary and genetics factors on the growth of adolescents in north-western Uganda.