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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition among adolescent girls: A
Tirumalasetti L Varshitha1, Sarada Vadlamani2, Chaitanya Gujjarlapudi3
1Faculty of Medicine, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam, India.
Abstract:
The intergenerational cycle of malnutrition contributes to adverse health outcomes across generations, with adolescence representing a key period for prevention. This study aimed to assess adolescent girls' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and to identify associated socio-demographic factors. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls in Visakhapatnam Urban, India, using a multistage probability sampling technique with probability proportional to size. Nine of 18 government secondary schools were randomly selected, followed by proportional selection of students from grades 8-10. Data were collected using a predesigned, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. A total of 316 adolescent girls were included; 50.3%, 62.7%, and 52.5% of participants had knowledge, attitude, and practice scores above the median, respectively. Multivariate analyses found that parental education and employment status were associated with knowledge and attitude scores. A total of 316 adolescent girls were included; 50.3%, 62.7%, and 52.5% had knowledge, attitude, and practice scores above the median, respectively. Maternal education was strongly associated with good knowledge (aOR 8.84; 95%CI: 4.65-16.78; p < 0.001) and favorable attitudes (aOR 1.67; 95%CI: 1.11-2.52; p = 0.013), while paternal education was also associated with knowledge (aOR 2.10; 95%CI: 1.16-3.83; p = 0.014) and attitude (aOR 1.49; 95%CI: 1.00-2.21; p = 0.048). Only family type was significantly associated with practices (aOR 0.62; 95%CI: 0.39-0.99; p = 0.047). Although adolescent girls demonstrated basic nutritional awareness, their understanding of malnutrition as a life-course and intergenerational issue remained limited. Strengthening school-based nutrition education with an explicit life-course perspective may improve informed dietary choices and support public health strategies to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.
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