The Determinants of Malnutrition Among Adolescent Girls: A Systematic Review

BackgroundMalnutrition, encompassing deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in energy and nutrient intake, continues to be a critical global issue. Adolescent girls, with their pivotal role as potential future mothers, are particularly susceptible to the challenges of malnutrition. The vulnerability of this group emanates from factors including inadequate nutritional intake and a lack of essential nutritional knowledge. This comprehensive systematic review strives to meticulously scrutinize the impact of environmental and behavioral determinants on malnutrition among adolescent girls in educational settings. MethodsAdhering rigorously to the guidelines stipulated by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, an exhaustive literature search was conducted up to April 9th, 2023, across esteemed databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Employing a refined search strategy incorporating Boolean operators, the search query ("Malnutrition" [Major]) AND "Adolescent" [MeSH] was deployed. Inclusivity criteria comprised original cross-sectional and case-control studies that comprehensively investigated the determinants of malnutrition among adolescent girls. This review places notable emphasis on studies published between 2013 and 2023, ensuring a contemporary and nuanced analysis of this critical subject matter. ResultsThe initial search resulted in 2438 articles. Twenty studies fully met the inclusion criteria. Most studies found that socioeconomic status, dietary patterns and their role, cultural and social norms, education and knowledge, early marriage and pregnancy, access to healthcare, and food security are the main key determinants of malnutrition among adolescent girls. ConclusionThe complex issue of malnutrition among adolescent girls, identifies various factors contributing to it, including social, economic, cultural, and individual factors. To combat malnutrition effectively, a holistic approach is needed, focusing on education, gender equality, and improved healthcare access, rather than just providing more food. This requires collaboration among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and local communities to raise awareness, empower economically, and remove healthcare barriers. By uniting these efforts, we can loosen the grip of malnutrition on adolescent girls and pave the way for their robust development and a brighter future.