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Adam SM, Teshoma MS, Ahmed ASD, Tamiru D. Household food insecurity and its association with academic performance among primary school adolescents in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303034. [PMID: 38995972 PMCID: PMC11244796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Academic achievement is crucial for the social and economic development of young people and determines the quality of education of a nation. According to different studies, food insecurity adversely affects children's health, nutrition, and subsequent decline in academic performance by impairing students' ability to learn and therefore affects the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. To provide evidence on the association of food insecurity with academic performance is necessary. The current study assessed household food insecurity and its association with academic performance among primary school adolescents in Hargeisa City, Somaliland. METHODS A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 primary school adolescents from December 2021 to March 2022. Students were selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on household food security and socio-demographic variables and entered into Epi data version 3.1. The data was exported to SPSS version 26 for descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals together with p <0.05 were utilized to declare statistical significance. RESULTS The prevalence of food insecurity among school adolescents was 59.21%. The majority (55.40%) of the school adolescents were poor academic performers. The frequency of adolescents' poor academic performance was significantly high (71.05%) among food insecure households (P < 0.001) as compared to their counterparts whose households were food secure (32.68%). On multivariable analysis, household food insecurity (AOR = 5.24, 95%CI = 3.17-8.65), school absenteeism (AOR = 3.49, 95%CI = 2.20-5.53), spending >2h/day watching TV / screen media use (AOR = 9.08, 95%CI = 4.81-17.13), high and middle wealth households (AOR = 0.51, 95%CI = 0.30-0.88) (AOR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.21-0.76) and habitual breakfast consumption (AOR = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.03-0.20) had shown statistically significant association with academic performance among primary school adolescents. CONCLUSION The present study revealed that household food insecurity has a high association with adolescents' academic performance. The prevalence of food insecurity is moderate, based on the household food insecurity access scale. The results indicate the need for policies and programs intended to improve household income by developing income-generation programs for lower-income families and enhance feeding programs such as national school lunch and school feeding across schools in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagal Mohamed Adam
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Health Institute, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Melese Sinaga Teshoma
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Health Institute, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Awale Sh. Dahir Ahmed
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Science, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dessalegn Tamiru
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, Health Institute, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Sholeye OO, Sodeinde KJ, Animasahun VJ, Ojeahere M, Gbadebo AA. Food insufficiency and its associated factors: Experiences of in-school adolescents in Sagamu Township, southwest Nigeria. Nutr Health 2024; 30:381-388. [PMID: 36062626 DOI: 10.1177/02601060221123183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: The burden of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is enormous. A higher proportion of the population suffer the consequences of food insecurity, hunger and undernourishment than previously assumed. Food insecurity among adolescents has been documented to be associated with malnutrition, poor health outcomes, low educational attainment and other negative consequences. Aim: This study therefore assessed food insecurity and its associated factors among adolescents in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1300 in-school adolescents in Sagamu Township, Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria, selected via multi-stage sampling. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the aid of SPSS 20.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, with p < 0.05. Result: The prevalence of food insecurity was 45%, of which 34.6% had mild food insecurity, 34.7% had moderate food insecurity, while others experienced the severe form of food insecurity. Gender, age; maternal occupation, maternal education, living arrangement, low sense of self-worth, alcohol intake and cigarette smoking were associated (p < 0.05) with food insecurity. Predictors of food insecurity were: age; maternal education, living arrangement and some behavioral factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among adolescents in Sagamu was high. Multi-sectorial action is essential in tackling the challenges of food insecurity and its numerous consequences among adolescents, at all levels of governance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafolahan O Sholeye
- Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria
| | - Kolawole J Sodeinde
- Department of Community Medicine, Benjamin Carson (Snr) School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria
| | | | - Margaret Ojeahere
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Abiola A Gbadebo
- Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria
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Onono MA, Frongillo EA, Sheira LA, Odhiambo G, Wekesa P, Conroy AA, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Weiser SD. Links between Household-Level Income-Generating Agricultural Intervention and the Psychological Well-Being of Adolescent Girls in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Affected Households in Southwestern Kenya: A Qualitative Inquiry. J Nutr 2023; 153:3595-3603. [PMID: 37863268 PMCID: PMC10739770 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls may experience poor psychological well-being, such as social isolation, shame, anxiety, hopelessness, and despair linked to food insecurity. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the experiences with and perceived effects of a household-level income-generating agricultural intervention on the psychological well-being of adolescent girls in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-affected households in southwestern Kenya. METHODS We conducted 62 in-depth interviews with HIV-affected adolescent girls and caregiver dyads in Adolescent Shamba Maisha (NCT03741634), a sub-study of adolescent girls and caregivers with a household member participating in Shamba Maisha (NCT01548599), a multisectoral agricultural and finance intervention trial aimed to improve food security and HIV health indicators. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure diversity in terms of age and location. Data were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, and uploaded into Dedoose (Sociocultural Research Consultants, LLC) software for management. Data were analyzed thematically based on reports from Dedoose. RESULTS We found evidence that a household-level structural intervention aimed at increasing food and financial security among persons living with HIV can contribute to better psychological well-being among adolescent girls residing in these households. The intervention also affected: 1) reduction of social isolation, 2) reduction of shame and stigma, 3) increased attendance and concentration in school, 4) improved caregiver mental health, and 5) reduced parental aggression and improved household communication. These associations were reported more commonly among those in the intervention arm than the control arm. CONCLUSIONS This study extends existing research by demonstrating how multisectoral structural interventions delivered at a household level can improve the psychological well-being of adolescents. We recommend that future research test livelihood interventions designed specifically for adolescent girls that integrate food-security interventions with other elements to address the social and psychological consequences of food insecurity holistically. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03741634.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricianah A Onono
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edward A Frongillo
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
| | - Lila A Sheira
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Gladys Odhiambo
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pauline Wekesa
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Amy A Conroy
- Division of Prevention Science, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Craig R Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Bukusi
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sheri D Weiser
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
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Rahman MA, Renzaho AMN, Kundu S, Awal MA, Ashikuzzaman M, Fan L, Ahinkorah BO, Okyere J, Kamara JK, Mahumud RA. Prevalence and factors associated with chronic school absenteeism among 207,107 in-school adolescents: Findings from cross-sectional studies in 71 low-middle and high-income countries. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283046. [PMID: 37163492 PMCID: PMC10171665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the negative impact of chronic school absenteeism on the psychological and physical health of adolescents, data on the burden of adolescent chronic school absenteeism (ACSA) and interventions and programs to address it are lacking. We estimated the global, regional and national level prevalence of ACSA and its correlation with violence and unintentional injury, psychosocial, protective, lifestyle, and food security-related factors among in-school adolescents across low and middle-income, and high-income countries (LMICs-HICs). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic school absenteeism (CSA) as well as to determine its associated factors among in-school adolescents across 71 low-middle and high-income countries. METHODS We used data from the most recent Global School-based Student Health Survey of 207,107 in-school adolescents aged 11-17 years in 71 LMICs-HICs countries across six WHO regions. We estimated the weighted prevalence of ACSA from national, regional and global perspectives. Multiple binary logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the adjusted effect of independent factors on ACSA. RESULTS The overall population-weighted prevalence of CSA was 11·43% (95% confidence interval, CI: 11·29-11·57). Higher likelihood of CSA was associated with severe food insecurity, peer victimisation, loneliness, high level of anxiety, physically attack, physical fighting, serious injury, poor peer support, not having close friends, lack of parental support, being obese, and high levels of sedentary behaviours. Lower likelihood of CSA was associated with being female (odds ratio, OR = 0·76, 95% CI: 0·74-0·78). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that a combination of different socio-economic factors, peer conflict and injury factors, factors exacerbate CSA among adolescents. Interventions should be designed to focus on these risk factors and should consider the diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ashfikur Rahman
- Development Studies Discipline, Social Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Andre M N Renzaho
- Professor of Humanitarian and Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
| | - Satyajit Kundu
- Global Health Institute, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Md Abdul Awal
- Electronics and Communication Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ashikuzzaman
- Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Lijun Fan
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Joshua Okyere
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Rashidul Alam Mahumud
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Dalforno RW, Wengert HI, Kim LP, Jacobsen KH. Anxiety and school absenteeism without permission among adolescents in 69 low- and middle-income countries. DIALOGUES IN HEALTH 2022; 1:100046. [PMID: 38515899 PMCID: PMC10953857 DOI: 10.1016/j.dialog.2022.100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Background Anxiety disorders are common among adolescents. In high-income countries, anxiety is a known contributor to truancy and school refusal, but this association has been understudied in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We used complex samples analysis to examine the association between self-reported worry-induced insomnia (an indicator of anxiety) and unauthorized school absenteeism among 268,142 adolescents from 69 LMICs that participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Results The median proportion of students who reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety most or all of the time during the previous year was 11.4% (range: 3.6%-28.2%); in 44 of the 69 countries, girls had a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety than boys. The percentage of students reporting school absence without permission during the past month was 30.2% (range: 14.7%-56.0%); in 40 countries, boys were significantly more likely than girls to report that they had missed school without permission. In 53 countries, adolescents who reported frequent anxiety were significantly more likely to miss school than adolescents reporting infrequent anxiety; in most of those countries, the association was significant for both girls and boys. Conclusion School-based interventions that help children and adolescents learn how to manage stress and refer students with symptoms of psychiatric disorders to healthcare services that can provide formal diagnosis and clinical treatment may be useful for improving both mental health and school attendance, thus contributing to achievement of Sustainable Development Goals related to both health (SDG 3.4) and education (SDG 4.1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W. Dalforno
- Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263, USA
| | | | - Loan Pham Kim
- Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263, USA
| | - Kathryn H. Jacobsen
- Department of Health Studies, University of Richmond, 231 Richmond Way, Richmond, VA 23173, USA
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Groves AK, Gebrekristos LT, McNaughton Reyes L, Moodley D, Raziano V, Maman S. A mixed-methods study of resilience and return to school among adolescent mothers in South Africa. Glob Public Health 2021; 17:2111-2124. [PMID: 34432605 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1970208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTUp to two-thirds of South African adolescent mothers drop out of school, which increases their HIV risk and other poor health outcomes. Despite variability in adolescent mothers' schooling trajectories, we have a limited understanding of their re-enrollment in school following the life-changing circumstance of childbirth. In this paper, we draw on qualitative interviews (n = 16) and quantitative surveys (n = 109) with adolescent mothers (aged 14-19) who had recently given birth to describe how access to individual and social resources contributes to their resilience following childbirth and thus affects their ability to re-enroll in school. Nearly all the adolescent mothers in our study expressed a desire to return to school, and most of their families also emotionally supported adolescent mothers in these goals. Despite mothers' high hopes and familial emotional support, only half of the adolescent mothers re-enrolled in the first six months following childbirth. Adolescent mothers' re-entry trajectories were strongly affected by institutional support and by family members' provision of instrumental support. To a lesser extent, support from partners and peers also played a role in re-enrollment. Multilevel interventions to maximise resilience following the onset of early motherhood may facilitate return to school and positively influence adolescent mothers' health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison K Groves
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Luwam T Gebrekristos
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Luz McNaughton Reyes
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dhayendre Moodley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Congella, South Africa
| | - Valerie Raziano
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Suzanne Maman
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Household food insecurity and educational outcomes in school-going adolescents in Ghana. Public Health Nutr 2020; 24:1349-1361. [PMID: 32713415 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980020001974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined the association of household food insecurity with educational outcomes and explored the moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. DESIGN The study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2014 using interviewer-administered questionnaires and school administrative records. We measured household food insecurity using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Educational outcomes referred to knowledge, attitudes and skills that students are expected to obtain while attending school. We obtained sixteen different measures of educational outcomes, ranging from academic grades to beliefs and attitudes towards school and education. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling with covariates at the student and school levels. We conducted moderation tests by adding a two-way interaction between food insecurity and gender, and between food insecurity and school lunch programme. SETTING The study was conducted in 100 schools located in fifty-four districts within Ghana's eight administrative regions in 2014. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 2201 school-going adolescents aged 15-19 years. RESULTS More than 60 % of adolescents were from food-insecure households. Household food insecurity was negatively associated with Math grade and school attendance. Food insecurity was also inversely associated with socio-emotional outcomes, including academic self-efficacy, commitment to school and academic aspirations and expectations. We did not find a moderating effect of gender and school lunch programme. CONCLUSIONS Food insecurity is negatively associated with wide-ranging educational outcomes related to both learning and socio-emotional abilities. Our study supports prior evidence suggesting the importance of food access on both cognitive and non-cognitive educational outcomes.
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Tamiru D, Belachew T. Household food insecurity and its association with morbidity report among school adolescent in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2018; 31:ijamh-2017-0042. [PMID: 29331095 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2017-0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Household food insecurity has a substantial contribution to poor health outcomes among young children and adolescents. Food insecurity also affects optimal cognitive development and physiological function of these vulnerable groups. There is a gap of documented data regarding the association of food insecurity and morbidity among school adolescents in Ethiopia. Objective The aim of this study is to assess the interrelationship of household food insecurity and morbidity report among school adolescent in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was done from October to November, 2013. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires through interview of students and their caregivers. A total of 1000 students were selected by using simple random sampling methods using their rosters as a frame. Data were also checked for missing values and outliers, and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Regression analyses were used to see the strength of association between independent and dependent variables using odds ratios and 95% of confidence intervals. Results Adolescents from food insecure households had more reported illness (39.3%) than adolescents from food secure households (24.7%) (p < 0.001). Adolescents from food insecure households were two times more exposed to morbidity [AOR = 2.04(1.32, 3.14)] than adolescents from food secure households. This study also showed that males had 48% less reported illness [AOR = 0.52(0.01, 0.23)] than females. Adolescents who had attended health education had less reported illness [AOR = 0.57(0.38, 0.86)] than those who did not ever attend. This study also showed that having a farmer [AOR = 0.46(0.28, 0.74)] and government employee [AOR = 0.33 (0.17, 0.64)] father were inversely associated with adolescent morbidity. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that household food insecurity, female gender and lack of attending health education had a significant contribution to adolescent morbidity. Therefore, there is a need to improve household income earning capacity and strengthen school based health and nutrition education to prevent adolescent morbidity. The findings of this study can also be used to lead the development of programs aimed at preventing adolescent morbidity by notifying policymakers and other stakeholders about the association of morbidity with household food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tefera Belachew
- Population and Family Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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