Nutrition status and dietary adequacy of adolescents in Nakivale refugee settlement, Uganda: a human rights approach

Abstract

Introduction: Dietary adequacy among adolescents is very crucial, and recent evidence from refugee situations shows that adolescents are among the most affected by macro and micronutrient deficiencies. Previous studies on nutritional assessment of high-risk populations (refugees) in Uganda have focused mainly on women of child bearing age and children (6-59 months). The study examined the dietary intake, nutritional status and associated factors that affect dietary intake among Adolescents (13-19years) in Nakivale refugee Settlement Isingiro district, Uganda as well as the adolescent perceptions regarding the Right to Adequate food and regulatory and institutional structures within that facilitate its realization for adolescent refugees. Methodology. The study utilized a cross-sectional design employing both qualitative and quantitative techniques, with a sample (n=386) of adolescents (13-19 years). A two-stage cluster sampling design was used. Weight and height were used to determine the BMI-for-Age, data on 24hour recall and Food Frequency Questionnaire for dietary adequacy were collected following the FAO classification. Key informant interviews and Focused Group Discussions were conducted independently and data was coded for analysis, descriptive analysis at univariate level was used to summarize the responses obtained from the participants. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 7%, highest among the 14 year olds (12%) and lowest among the 19-year-old (0%) with males more likely to be undernourished (P=0.002) LR (89.417) than females, individuals of Congolese origin were 1.24 times more likely to be undernourished (P=0.013) compared to other nationalities. Majority (60.1%) had scores falling in the medium followed by high (38.9%) and low (1%) Individual Dietary Diversity Score categories. The mean IDDS was 6 and comprised 27.9 % of the respondents. Only 33.9% of respondents had IDDS above the mean and systems existed that protect the right to adequate food though need to be strengthened.

Conclusion: There is a moderate dietary adequacy among the refugee adolescents (13-19 years) especially among those in range of 16-19 years in Nakivale settlement camp. Male adolescents ware found to be more undernourished than female adolescents. There was more consumption of plant-based foods than animal-based foods among the refugee adolescents (13-19 years) in Nakivale settlement camp. There is an established relationship between perceptions of adolescents and available regulatory procedures necessary for the realization of the Right to Adequate Food. Notwithstanding insufficiencies affecting progress towards its realization, there exists regulatory and institutional structures necessary to protect, respect and observe refugees’ rights.