Prevalence and associated factors of symptoms of pica among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan: a cross-sectional study

Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Symptoms of Pica Among Adolescent School Children in Northern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives. To assess levels of 25(OH)D among adolescents with symptoms of pica in northern Sudan. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in North Sudan. Questionaries were used to collect adolescents' sociodemographics. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure 25(OH)D level. Results. Of the 344 adolescents enrolled, 161 (46.8%) and 183 (53.2%) were male and female, respectively and 103 (29.9%) had symptoms of pica. The median (IQR) of 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in adolescents with symptoms of pica. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that while age (coefficient = 1.1, P = .023) was positively associated with 25(OH)D level, female sex (coefficient = -7.5, P < .001), and pica symptoms (coefficient = -3.5, P = .032) were negatively associated with 25(OH)D level. Conclusion. Adolescents with symptoms of pica had lower 25(OH)D levels. Adolescents with symptoms of pica have to be assessed for vitamin D status.

Prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among adolescent Sudanese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition among adolescents is a considerable health problem worldwide. There are scarce data on undernutrition among adolescents in Sudan.

METHODS

A cross‑sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among adolescent schoolchildren in northern Sudan. The questionnaires were used to collect information on sociodemographics. Weights and heights were measured and the height-for-age and body mass index-for-age cut-offs recommended by the WHO were applied, followed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 384 enrolled adolescents, 202 (52.6%) were females and 182 (47.4%) were males. The median (IQR) age of these adolescents was 15.1 (14.0‒16.3) y. Seventy-six (19.8%) and 52 (15.4%) adolescents had stunting and thinness, respectively, and 15 (3.9%) had both stunting and thinness. Multivariate analysis showed that increased age (adjusted OR [AOR]=1.30, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.57) and male gender (AOR=5.82, 95% CI 3.11 to 10.91) were associated with stunting. Male gender (AOR=2.08, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.82) and smoking/tobacco snuff (AOR=2.61, 95% CI 1.07 to 6.36) were associated with thinness.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study are that both stunting and thinness are important health problems, especially among boys, older participants and smokers.