Deficiency of calories and certain micronutrients are known to cause growth retardation in children and adolescents. During adolescence, lifelong dietary and related habits are established, presenting a unique opportunity to instill positive health behaviors (Sawyer et al., 2012). The extent of variations in intake of nutrients occurring in a homogeneous population provides useful information (Shafiee et al., 2015). Nutritional status is the condition of the body in those respects influenced by the diet; the levels of nutrients in the body and the ability of those levels to maintain normal metabolic integrity (Beaudry et al., 2004). Food choices in low-resource settings are constrained by high levels of poverty, leading to food insecurity, poor diet diversity, and lack of access to nutritious food (Akseer et al., 2017). Boys also have increased nutritional requirements for adequate physical growth and development such as muscle mass accumulation, and they experience a high burden of malnutrition (Bundy et al., 2018). Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and maturation in human development (Maiti et al., 2011). There has been a worldwide significant change in the nutritional status of adolescents during the past 2 decades because of global economic development and urbanization (Wang et al., 2009). Adolescents malnutrition, an alarming public health problem worldwide (Chen et al., 2013) is imposing a great threat to the future generation via a vicious cycle. In Malaysia, a moderately high prevalence of anemia has been reported amongst infants, young children and women of childbearing age (Foo et al., 2004). It is a vulnerable time, particularly for girls who have increased nutritional requirements due to menstruation and often have restricted access to nutritious food, education, and economic opportunities due to gendered cultural norms (Ivers et al., 2011; Shahen et al., 2019). In this trial, frequent standardized hand rubbing with ethanol-based disinfectant did not reduce the weekly prevalence of either type of infections (Hovi et al., 2017). 

Rates of malnutrition in Bangladesh are among the highest in the world, with six million children estimated to be chronically undernourished. The proportion of thinness was significantly higher among subjects who suffered from iron deficiency anaemia (Kurniawan et al., 2006). Surprisingly, 73.8% of the participants were not aware of the sources of iron-rich foods (Kabir et al., 2010). 

Factors associated with the increased use of iron supplements were related to awareness of the boys about extra nutrients and their access to mass media and education (Alam et al., 2010). Many Iranian adolescent boys are Fe-deficient, but it is unclear whether Fe deficiency is associated with other nutritional risk indicators. Anemia was more prevalent among overweight Fe-deficient adolescents than among those Fe- deficient and at risk for overweight or normal weight (34.1 % v. 28.8 % v. 27.8 %, respectively; P < 0.001) (Eftekhari et al., 2014). There is a need to improve their hemoglobin status through dietary modification along with preventive supplemen tation and nutrition education (Choudhary et al., 2006). 

The main objectives of the studies to assess the nutritional status among the adolescent boys of a selected recognized a charitable organization in Dhaka city, and to find out the socio-demographic factors, nutritional status, charitable organization related variables of the respondents, and to evaluate the association between education and BMI of the respondents. 

Study Design and Population - It was a descriptive type of cross-sectional study. The sample population has consisted of adolescence boys living in a Mirpur-6 charitable orphanage.

Study Area and Site - The study was conducted in the Mirpur area of Dhaka city. The site was in Mirpur charitable organization –

Location Mirpur-6, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Number of adolescent boys - 600

Facilities- Boarding, Education, Food, Dress, Medical facilities

Study Period and Sample Size - The study will be conducted from 1st June 2018 to 30th September 2018. Following formula was used to determine the sample size.

Here

n = the desired sample size

z = the standard normal deviate usually     

set at 1.96 which correspondents to 95%      confidence level

p = 49%14 (Estimated prevalence)

q = 1-p = 1-0.49 

q = 0.51

d = degree of accuracy desired, usually set at 0.05%.

Now, the required a sample size

= 384.006

So, required the sample size is 384.

The researcher took 100 samples by kind permission of Guide due to financial and time limitation.

Inclusion and Exclusion criteria:

Inclusion Criteria - Those who were willing to give consent and participate in the study. Stayed in the orphanage for more than 2 years.

Exclusion Criteria - Mentally or physically handicapped.

Sampling technique and Data collection tools - Non-randomized purposive sampling technique was applied to collect the data. A semi-structured pretested, modified questionnaire will be used to collect the data.

Data management and analysis - After the collection of data of the respondents were organized. Data was entered into the computer into a data base in the software package. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) Version 16.0 (Polar engineering and consulting, Chicago) using descriptive statistics such as frequency, distribution, range, mean, and percentage. 

Scores and percentages were computed and presented in tabular form, charts, and graphs as appropriate. Further, it was analyzed with the help of the chi-square test and P-value. Finally, the data was interpreted on the basis of the study findings.

The cross-sectional type of descriptive study was conducted for nutritional status among the adolescent boys of a selected recognized charitable organization in Dhaka city with a sample size of 100. A pre-tested modified interviewer administrated semi-structured questionnaires was used to collect the information. Section A contains socio-demographic related variables, Section B contains nutritional related variables, Section C contains charitable organization related variables and Section D contains IEC related variables. All the data were entered and analyzed by using Statistical packages for social science (SPSS) software version 16.0 (Chicago).

Table 1: Distribution of the respondents by age (n=100)

Fig 1: Distribution of the respondents by age.

As shown in Table 1, 60%, 36% and 4% of the respondents belong to <10 years of age, 11-13 years and 14 years respectively with the mean age 9.93±2.392 years (Fig 1).

Table 2: Distribution of the respondents by education (n=100)

Table 3: Distribution of the respondents by height (n=100)

Table 4: Distribution of the respondents by body weight (n=100)

Table 5: Distribution of the respondents by BMI (n=100)

Table 6: Distribution of the respondents by type of charitable organization (n=100)

Table 7: Distribution of the respondents by funding organizations of the orphanage (n=100)

Table 2 shows that 60% of the respondents were illiterate and 40% were primary. Table 3 found that 59%, 31% and 10% of the respondents were 123-152 cm, <122 cm and were >153 cm respectively. Table 4 shows that 57% of the respondents were 21- 40 kg, 37% were <20 kg and 6% were >41 kg respectively with mean body weight were 24.92±8.199 kg. Table 5 reveals that 59% of the respondents were underweight and 41% were normal with the mean BMI were 14.48±2.385 kg. These findings are similar to the finding of a study carried out by Alam N. et al., 2010. 

Table 6 revealed that 100% of the respondents were living in the orphanage. Table 7 shows that 100% of the respondents had funding organizations of the orphanage were Private Company.

Table 8: Distribution of the respondents by types of food (Multiple responses)

Fig 2: Distribution of the respondents by types of food (Multiple responses).

Table 8 found that 100% of the respondents were taken vegetables and rice. Among them, 92%, 89%, 64%, 47% and 4% of the respondents were taken chicken, fast food, beef, bread, and mutton respectively (Fig 2).

Table 9: Distribution of the respondents by amount of food (n=100)

Fig 3: Distribution of the respondents by the amount of food.

Fig 4: Distribution of the respondents by type of education.

Table 10: Distribution of the respondents by type of education (n=100)

Table 9 found that 96% of the respondents were taken sufficient food whereas 4% had insufficient food intake  (Fig 3) and Table 10 found that 96% of the respondents were took education from Madrasha, and 4% took general education (Fig 4).

Table 11: Distribution of the respondents by information about personal hygiene (n=100)

Fig 5: Distribution of the respondents by information about personal hygiene.

Table 12: Distribution of the respondents by type of personal hygiene (Multiple responses)

Fig 6: Distribution of the respondents by type of personal hygiene (Multiple responses).

Table 11 shows that 92% of the respondents had information about personal hygiene and 8% had not (Fig 5) and Table 12 found that 84%, 80%, 76% and 70% of the respondents were maintain personal hygiene by Nail and hair trimming, Hand wash practicing by soap after toileting, use toothbrush and pest every day and Hand wash practicing by soap after taking food respectively (Fig 6). These findings were similar to the finding of a study carried out by Hovi T. et al., 2017

Table 13: Distribution of the respondents by information about personal hygiene by mass media (Multiple responses)

Table 14: Distribution of the respondents by the association between Age and Amount of the food (n=100)

Table 13 reveals that 57%, 53%, 49%, 16% and 2% of the respondents had information about personal hygiene by doctors, friends, television, radio, and poster respectively. Table 14 finds that P- value was 0.016 which was less than 0.05 that was a statistically significant association between Age and Amount of the food (P value obtained from Pearson Chi-square (χ2) test). Table 15 finds that P- value was 0.022 which was less than 0.05 that was the statistically significant association between Age and Information about personal hygiene. Table 16 finds that P- value was 0.000 which was less than 0.05 that was the statistically significant association between Age and BMI.

Table 15: Distribution of the respondents by the association between Age and information about personal hygiene (n=100)

Table 16: Distribution of the respondents by the association between Age and information about BMI (n=100)

P value obtained from Pearson Chi-square (χ2) test 

P value obtained from Pearson Chi-square (χ2) test

The present study was designed to assess the nutritional status of the adolescent boys of a recognized charitable orphanage in Dhaka city and also their nutrient intake. Institutional environments play an important and necessary role in orphaned care and, at least in this setting, provide a benchmark against which community performance should be measured. The overall nutritional status among study subjects was not good. The major finding of the study was that 100% of respondents were taken vegetables and rice. Among them, 92%, 89%, 64%, 47% and 4% of the respondents were taken chicken, fast food, beef, bread, and mutton respectively. Among them, 96% were taken enough food whereas 4% had insufficient food intake. The study further showed that, 92% of the respondents had information about personal hygiene and 8% had not, and maintain personal hygiene by nail and hair trimming, hand washes practicing by soap after toileting, use toothbrush and pest everyday and hand wash practicing by soap after taking food respectively. There was a statistically significant association between age with the amount of food, information about personal hygiene and BMI was (0.016, 0.022 and 0.000). The present study concluded that nutritional status among the adolescent boys of a selected recognized charitable organization in Dhaka city was conducted and it was observed through BMI and mean nutrient intake.

This research was cordially supported with proper guidance and help for data analysis in the Dept. of Physiotherapy of the Gono Bishwabidyalay, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Heartiest thanks to the co-authors of the study to conduct the successful research work.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests with respect to the research.