Malaria and nutritional status among Female Adolescents in West sulawesi, Indonesia Noer Noor Bahri1, Hadju Veni2, thaha Ridwan M3, Daud Anwar4, Arundhana Andi Imam5, Mallongi Anwar6,* 1Senior Lecturer of Department of Hospital Administration, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 2Professor of Community Nutritional Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 3Senior Lecturer of Health and Education Promotion Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 4Professor of Environmental Health Department Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 5Lecturer of Community Nutritional Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia 6Senior Lecturer of Environmental Health Department Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia *Corresponding author: Anwar Mallongi Senior Lecturer of Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia E-mail: anwar_envi@yahoo.com Mobile Phone: 082187724636
Online published on 7 February, 2018. Abstract Background Adolescent girls are one of the vulnerable groups in which the nutritional demand increases. One of the most common nutritional problems in adolescent girl is anemia. This risk of anemia increases especially for those living in endemic area of malaria. The relationship between nutritional status and malaria is complex and involves many determinant factors. Objective This study aims to determine the relationship between anemia and nutritional status in adolescent girl in West Sulawesi Province. Material and Method This study was a cross-sectional and conducted in North Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province. A total of 200 adolescent girls as the subjects from 4 schools were selected using two stage random sampling. The variables measured were malaria status, type of malaria, worm status, and nutritional status. Diagnosis of malaria is conducted by health professional based on the result of blood sample analysis (250–500 ml). The type of malaria was observed in the sub-sample (43 students). Nutritional status was calculated after measurement of body weight and height by using weight for height indices (WHZ score). Feces collected are to see the presence of worm infection. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed using chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA analysis using SPSS 15. Result This study shows that most respondents have decent dwellings. It is characterized by 71.5% having own latrines, 60% having cemented wells, cemented floor (62.5%), and 73.5% tin roofs. This study also shows that the number of malaria was 21.5% and the dominant type of malaria was Tertiana (79.1%). Many of adolescent girls were malnutrition marked by BMI <17 kg/m2, chronic energi deficiency, and anemia (9.5%, 54.5%, 71.9%, respectively). In addition, 28.5% of students were infected with the worms. Bivariate analysis showed that there was no significant association between malaria status and anemia (p = 0.368). However, it appears that those with malaria have lower mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) than non-malaria. Similarly with the indicator of body mass index, adolescent girl with malaria had lower BMI than non-malaria (19.05 kg/m2 vs. 19.39 kg/m2). However, hemoglobin levels in the malaria group were higher than the non-malaria group (11.34 vs. 11.05). Conclusion The current study concluded that malaria in adolescent girl may have an impact on body composition but not on hemoglobin levels. Further studies need to be done primarily to see the long-term repercussions of repeated malaria in adolescent girls. Top Keywords Anemia, nutritional status, Falciparum, body mass index, adolescent. Top |