Stunting and thinness among adolescents residing in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia: a school-based cross-sectional study using WHO AnthroPlus.

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a critical period of growth and development during which nutritional deficiencies may adversely affect health outcomes throughout adulthood.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of stunting and thinness among adolescents in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia, using the WHO AnthroPlus growth reference, and to identify associated sociodemographic factors.

DESIGN

School-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Governmental intermediate schools in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia, between January and May 2023.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total of 324 adolescents aged 13-16 years were enrolled using a multistage cluster sampling technique. Sociodemographic data were collected using a data collection form. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were obtained according to standardized World Health Organization (WHO) protocols. Height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and body mass index-for-age z-scores (BMIZ) were calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with stunting and thinness.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of stunting (HAZ <-2 standard deviations, SD), severe stunting (HAZ <-3 SD), and thinness (BMIZ <-2 SD), and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics.

SAMPLE SIZE: A total of 324 adolescents were included in the final analysis.

RESULTS

The mean HAZ for the study population was -0.74±1.08. Stunting (HAZ <-2 SD) was identified in 40 adolescents (12.3%; 95% CI: 9.0%-16.0%), including 6 adolescents with severe stunting (1.9%; 95% CI: 0.6%-3.4%). The mean BMIZ was 0.69±1.30, and thinness (BMIZ <-2 SD) was observed in 14 adolescents (4.3%; 95% CI: 2.2%-6.5%). Increasing age was independently associated with higher odds of stunting (AOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.12-2.30; P=.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Stunting remains a significant public health concern among adolescents in Jazan city despite the relatively low prevalence of thinness. Increasing age was independently associated with higher odds of stunting.

LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. The study included only governmental schools from Jazan city, which may limit generalizability.