Background: Adolescent girls have a greater nutrient demand and their poor dietary intake is associated with micronutrient deficiencies and poor maternal outcomes. Having information on micronutrient intake inadequacy in adolescent girls is critical for promoting healthy behavior and breaking the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition. Thus, this study assessed overall micronutrient intake inadequacy and associated factors among school adolescent girls in Meshenti town of Bahir Dar City Administration, North West Ethiopia. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 adolescent girls from February 7 to 23, 2020. A Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recall with portion size estimation method and recommended dietary allowance cut-off point were used to assess micronutrient intake inadequacy. Overall micronutrient intake inadequacy was measured using the mean adequacy ratio. Nutrient databases were developed by ESHA FOOD PROCESSOR version 8.1 software. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of overall micronutrient intake inadequacy and an adjusted odds ratio at a p-value of less than 0.05 was used to see the strength of statistical association. Results: The prevalence of overall micronutrient intake inadequacy was 44.4% (95% CI: 39.7%-49.6%). Early adolescent age (AOR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.71–4.42), food-insecure household (1.74, 95%CI: 1.087–2.784), low dietary diversity score (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.35–5.92), and high peer pressure on eating and body concern (AOR = 1.853, 95% CI: 1.201–2.857) were significantly associated factors with overall micronutrient intake inadequacy. Conclusion: Findings of this study revealed that micronutrient intake inadequacy among adolescent girls was a high public health problem in the study area. Therefore, attention should be given to adolescent girls of the study area, especially the ones in the early adolescent age. Interventions should also focus on nutrition-sensitive activities to address food insecurity, a less diversified diet, and the negative impact of peer influence.

Objective: This study assessed macronutrient intake and associated factors among school adolescent girls in Meshenti, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 7 to 23 February 2020, among 401 randomly selected adolescent girls. Macronutrient intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall with portion size estimation. Nutrient data were analysed with Elizabeth Stewart Hands and Associates FOOD PROCESSOR software and compared with WHO/FAO recommendations – 2200 kcal for energy and 34–46 g for protein. Factors associated with inadequate macronutrient intake were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Setting: The study was conducted in an institutional setting. Participants: This study was conducted among school adolescent girls. Results: The median (IQR) energy intake was 2040·23 (1648·24–2744·51), and the mean (sd) protein intake was 63·88 (20·99). About 57·6 % (95 % CI: 52·9, 62·8 %) had inadequate energy intake, and 18·5 % (95 % CI: 14·7, 22·2 %) had inadequate protein intake. Inadequate energy intake was associated with dietary diversity (AOR = 4·31, 95 % CI: 2·20, 8·47), knowledge (AOR = 2·10, 95 % CI: 1·34, 3·28) and meal frequency (AOR = 2·5, 95 % CI: 1·06, 5·95). Factors linked to inadequate protein intake included early adolescence (AOR = 1·89, 95 % CI: 1·08, 3·31), residency (AOR = 0·27, 95 % CI: 0·15, 0·48), dietary diversity (AOR = 3·28, 95 % CI: 1·08, 9·98), knowledge (AOR = 1·82, 95 % CI: 1·04, 3·19) and meal frequency (AOR = 2·94, 95 % CI: 1·35, 6·37). Conclusion: This study revealed high inadequate energy and protein intake. Contributing factors included dietary diversity, knowledge and meal frequency, with age and residence affecting protein intake. Emphasis is needed on early adolescent girls’ nutrition education.

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks are limited in nutritional value. Excess consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks in early childhood is associated with inadequate micronutrient intake, being overweight or obese, and developing chronic diseases later in life. There is scarcity of information specific to sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks consumption prevalence and its determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa Countries. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption and its determinants among infants and young children aged 6–23 months. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted using demographic and health survey data conducted from 2019 to 2023 from twelve Sub-Saharan African countries. A weighted sample of 23,145 children aged 6–23 months was included in the study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. The level of statistical significance was declared with a p-value < 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Results: The pooled prevalence of Sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption was 25.40% (95% CI: 24.84% − 25.96%). In multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis, children aged between 9−11(AOR = 1.95 95% CI: 1.62, 2.35), 12–17(AOR = 2.83; 95% CI: 2.26, 3.54), and 18−23 months (AOR = 3.77;95% CI: 3.07, 4.63), media exposure (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI:1.28, 1.98), children from households with middle (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.73) and rich (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.87, 2.85) wealth status, post natal checkup (AOR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.05,1.33), maternal ANC visit (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.22), and high community media exposure ((AOR = 2.22;95%CI:1.65,5.81) were positively associated significant factors whereas currently breast feeding children (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59,0.82), older age at first birth (AOR = 0.88,95% CI: 0.81, 0.96), presences of more than one under-5 children in the household (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99), mothers don’t perceive distance to health facility as big problem (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI:0.76, 0.98), and children reside in rural (AOR = 0.83;95%CI:0.68,0.95) were negatively associated with sugar sweetened beverage or snack consumption. Conclusion: In this study, one out of four children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks. Current age of child, current breastfeeding status of child, media exposure, wealth index, maternal age at first birth, post natal checkup, maternal ANC visit, number of under-five children in the household, distance to health facility, place of residence, and community level media exposure were significant factors with sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to raise awareness about the health risks of sugar-sweetened beverage and snack consumption, enforce restrictions on their advertisement, strengthen nutrition-focused counseling within maternal and child health services with special attention for older age children, promote breastfeeding, and give special attention to challenges related to health facility accessibility, and support for young mothers.