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- Biomedical Research (2016) Volume 27, Issue 1

Knowledge, attitude and practice of balanced diet and correlation with hypochromic microcytic anemia among adolescent school girls in maros district, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Sitti Patimah1*, Ida Royani2, Ansar Mursaha3, Abdul Razak Thaha4
1Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, Universitas Muslim Indonesia (Campus II), Indonesia
2Clinical Nutrition Department, School of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia (Campus II), Indonesia
3Nutrition Department, Health Polytechnic of Palu, Indonesia
4Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Sitti Patimah
Nutrition Department
School of Public Health
Universitas Muslim Indonesia (Campus II)
Indonesia
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Abstract

Anemia among adolescent girls is remaining a public health problem in Indonesia. This study was aimed to assess the association of balanced diet behavior and microcytic-hypochromic anemia among adolescent girls. A cross-sectional study has been conducted among 200 adolescent girls in five senior high schools in Maros regency on March to April 2015. Assessment of anemia was performed by Flow Cytometry and SLS-hemoglobin method, data of balanced diet behavior was collected using structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using chi- square test with SPSS software for windows. The prevalence of microcytic-hypochromic anemia was 19.5%. There were 41% subjects had low knowledge about balanced diet, more than a half (55.5%) had negative attitude to balanced diet, and 46.5% had a poor practice of balance diet. Knowledge and attitude about balanced diet had no association with microcytic- hypochromic anemia. In contrast, the practices of balanced diet had a significant association with microcytic-hypochromic anemia (p=0.048). It is suggested to conduct an intervention for balanced diet education among adolescent schoolgirls to improve their balanced diet behavior

Keywords
Balanced nutrition, Behavior, Microcytic-hypochromic anemia, Female adolescent.

Introduction
In Indonesia, the slogan of “Healthy Four Perfect Five (H4P5)”, launched in 1952 and used as an eating guideline, has deeply rooted in society containing five food groups. In terms of “Healthy 4” includes staple foods source, side dishes, vegetables, and fruits whereas “Perfect 5” was milk [1,2,3]. However, this slogan was not appropriate with recent science and nutritional problems in Indonesia, so that the government of Indonesia changed this slogan into “guideline of balanced nutrition”. This guideline has 4 pillars: (1) consume various food, (2) hygiene behavior, (3) physical exercise, and (4) maintaining and monitoring ideal body weight [3].
One of nutritional problems that prevalent among premarried adolescent girls (15-19 years old) in Indonesia is nutritional anemia. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls about 46.6% and it has been considered as a public health nutrition problem [4]. Menstrual abnormalities and inadequate diet are two major cause of anemia among adolescent girls [5]. Anemia can result in development and cognitive function impairment [3, 4], loss of productivity, and increase the susceptibility to infection, that would widely affect the economic burden [6].
Adolescent phase is an important period to establish lifelong behavior including eating behavior [7]. Lancet (2013) in the series of maternal and child nutrition has identified the importance of nutrition of female adolescent for women's health and maternal nutrition [8]. Making adolescence as a key to give effect (general education and health) is a positive thing. It is one of the important steps taken to improve women's health [7].
Waisbord [9] revealed the importance of behavioral studies which applied to child survival programming. Behavior manifested in three forms, namely knowledge, attitudes, and practices [10]. Social determinants become an important point to encourage the occurrence of nutrition and health problems. Therefore, this research is important to assess one of social determinants such balanced diet behavior (knowledge, attitude, and practice balanced diet) in relation to microcytic-hypochromic anemia which is still very limited. In addition, according to our knowledge, there is still no current research about this topic especially in Indonesia, so it can be used as evidence based in designing the intervention strategies to overcome nutrition problem among female adolescence for long term period.

Material and Methods
This study was cross sectional design and conducted in 5 high schools in district of Maros, South Sulawesi from March to April 2015. This study has been given a approved by the ethics committee from health research of Medical Faculty of Hasanuddin University, Education hospital of Hasanuddin University, and Public Hospital of Dr. Wahidin Sudiro Husodo (Registration No: UH15020073). Samples, 200 adolescent girls in grade 10th, were selected by using stratified random sampling. Grade 10th was chosen due to this study was part of a longitudinal study conducted three years longitudinally. Characteristics data of students and their families as well as balanced diet behavior including knowledge, attitude and practice of balanced diet were collected by using a structured questionnaire. There were 21 questions for balanced diet knowledge, 17 questions for balanced diet attitude, and 15 questions for balanced diet practices. Scores on balanced diet knowledge and practices in the range of 0-2. When the respondent did not know and did not practice of balance diet, the score given is "0". Then if they answer “false” and practice "sometimes", the score is "1" while if they answer “true” and “practice” the score is "2 ". Scores on attitude was based on the Likert scale stated in positive question with score 4 for "strongly agree", score 3 for "agree", score 2 for "disagree", and score 1 for “strongly disagree", whereas for negative questions were scored 4 for "strongly disagree", score 3 for "disagree", score 2 for "agree", and score 1 for "strongly agree". The size of red blood cells to determine the mean level of cell volume (MCV) and mean of cell hemoglobin concentration (MCH) was obtained by taking a blood sample from Mediana Cubiti vein about 3 cc of EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic Acid) and then analyzed using Flow cytometry and SLS-hemoglobin in the laboratory of Prodia Makassar (Private laboratory).
All data were processed using statistical package for the social science (SPSS) software for windows. Descriptive subset of the statistics (frequency, mean, and percent) was performed to elucidate the characteristics of subject, the balanced diet behavior (knowledge, attitude and practices) and the prevalence of microcytic-hypochromic anemia. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between behavior (knowledge, attitudes, practices) of balanced diet and microcytic-hypochromic anemia among adolescent schoolgirls.

Results

Subject and Family Characteristics
The age of adolescent girls involved in this study ranging from 14 to 18 years old, and almost two third (71.5%) of them are in ranged from 16 to 18 years old. Subjects had their first menstruation in average 13 years old with the range of 10 to15 years. The numbers of subject siblings were in average of 3 persons and the family member number is ± 5 persons. Most of the family member (45%) ranged from 5 to 6 persons. More than half of subject’s parents had low-level of education. There were 199 of 200 subjects able to provide information about the education level of their father, whereas another one subjects did not know her father’s educational level due to her parents have divorced (Table 1).
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The average score of knowledge about balanced diet were 29.92. According to average score, it was found that 59% of subjects had good knowledge about balanced diet. However, there were still several questions answered “True” by subjects when in fact it is “wrong” such as “every meal should be varies”, “always drinking sugary drinks is good for health”, and “Healthy 4 Perfect 5 is a healthy eating guideline” (60%, 58.5%, and 96%, respectively). In addition, about a quarter of subjects answered “False” for questions about rice can be replaced by noodles (33.5%), and white rice can be replaced by sticky rice (26%). A number of questions were answered “do not know” by most respondents such as animal protein can be replaced by vegetable protein (50.5%), cheap fruit is lack of vitamins (29.5%), supplement are needed if the body lacks of nutrients (31.5%), milk is as good as meat for protein source (25%), monitoring of ideal body weight is an indicator to determine the adequacy of nutrition and health status (34%), short, thin, and fat are a matter of nutritional disorders (36.5%) (Table 2).
In Table 3, it was found that more than half of respondents (55.5%) have a negative attitude towards balanced diet based on the attitude mean score of subjects (49.07). Many respondents answered "agree and strongly agree" on a number of negative questions such as “source of protein per day consumption of 2-3 servings” (90.5%), “exercise once a week is enough” (57.5%), “drinking milk alone is enough to make healthy body” (54%), and “Healthy 4 Perfect 5” is the same as with balanced diet” (98%).
Balanced diet practices committed by adolescent girls were mostly classified as good (53.5%) based on the calculation of a mean score of balanced diet practices (15.84). Most of the subjects often consume vegetables and fruits (green and colorless). It was only a third (31%) of respondents who had breakfast in the morning and 4% of the subjects brought lunch box to school. Hygiene practices by washing hands with water+soap before and after meal were practiced by three-quarters (76%) of respondents (Table 3). The mean frequency of eating in a day was less than three times (2.6) (58.5%), the average frequency of vegetable consumption was 2 times a day with a portion only 1.6, while the mean frequency of eating fruit in a day less than 2 times a day with a portion only 1.4.
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Based on MCV and MCHC level, it was found that the prevalence of microcytic anemia among adolescent girls was 87.5%, hypochromic anemia was 20.5%, and microcytic-hypochromic anemia was 19.5%. Prevalence of anemia based on hemoglobin level was 15.5%. Chi-square test results showed that the knowledge and attitudes of balanced diet had no association with microcytic-hypochromic anemia (p>0.05). In the contrary, balanced diet practices was associated significantly with microcytic-hypochromic anemia (p=0.048). The percentage of subjects who have practiced balanced diet poorly and suffer from microcytic-hypochromic anemia was 61.5%.

Discussion
Assessments of the knowledge about balanced diet among female adolescent showed that almost all respondents (96%) stated that the “Healthy 4 Perfect 5” as a healthy eating guidelines. This study is in line with the findings of Hidayanti et al. [11] that 92% of mothers of primary school pupils considered the “Healthy 4 Perfect 5” same as with “balanced diet”, as well as the study by Achadi et al. [12].
It was also found that among the four pillars of balanced diet, only the first pillar that is not largely understood well by the subjects. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pillars have been known correctly by the majority of subjects. However, the type of nutrition problems (short, thin, and fat) as a result of the implementation of balanced nutrition that is not correct in everyday life. It was still found that more than a half of the subjects did not know it properly. Based on the calculation of balanced diet knowledge score, it was classified that 59% of subjects have quite good knowledge about balanced diet, in line with the finding by Maria [13] that 56.7% of adolescent having a good knowledge of balanced diet.
About the attitude of balanced diet on adolescent girls, more than half of respondents (55.5%) had a negative attitude towards balanced diet. It contrary to their knowledge, which is categorized as a good knowledge. In contrast to the results of the study by Ibrahim et al. [14] that 66.6% of female in schools.
(17-21 years) had a positive attitude towards of balanced diet. In addition, the findings of this study reinforce the theory that a good knowledge is not always followed by a positive attitude. It was proven from one of the results of this study that the majority (60%) of subjects answered “incorrectly” even do not know (17%) that each meal should be varied, while from the aspect of attitude was seen that almost all subjects (92%) to be positive that it is necessary to eat a various food in order the body gets all the nutrients.
Contrast result showed on practices, where most of adolescent girls had a well-balanced diet practices (53.5%) and almost equal in number to subjects who have a good knowledge of balanced diet. Other study by Choi et al. [15] has confirmed this result that the eating behavior of women is positively correlated with nutrition knowledge. However, in contrary with the findings of Sakamaki et al. [16] that nearly 85.6% of students aware of the concept of a balanced nutritious diet (nutritionally balanced food), but only a few (7%) applying this concept when choosing food.
Balanced diet practices committed by female adolescent were mostly classified as good (53.5%). It could be seen that more than half of the subjects were eating three times a day (54.5%), followed by eating two times a day (38.5%), consumption of vegetables 2 times per day (48.8%) and most of the female adolescent eat fruit once a day (47.8%). The results of this study are similar to the research results found by Pareek and Hafiz [17] that 56% of female adolescent (14-16 years) in secondary school had their meals 3 times a day and 39% of the subjects ate two meals a day. Vegetable consumption of 2 times per day of students is even greater in China (almost 80%) and finding by Sakamaki et al. [16] compared to the results of this study. These results are supported by studies conducted by Maria [13] in Bogor Indonesia that found 41.7% of adolescent girls have a well-balanced diet practices. But it is in contrast to the results of the study conducted by Bano et al. [18] that most young girls having unhealthy habit of eating practice.
The prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls was slightly lower compared to study in East Kalimantan Indonesia (15.5% vs 18.8%) [19]. Another study by Patimah et al. [20] found that 50.5% of adolescent girls was anemia. In contrast, this study finding was higher compared to Hanan et al. [21]. In addition, it was also found that more than three-quarters subjects in this study have microcyticanemia (87.5%) higher than the study by Htet et al. [22] in Myanmar (82%) and Al Hassan [23] in Saudi Arabia (81%). Prevalence of microcytic- hypocromic anemia in this study lower than finding in prior study by Chaudhary and Dhage [24] and Dutt et al. [25] (19.5% vs 25.4% vs 31%). But this result higher than prevalence of anemia among reproductive-age women found by Panigrahi et al. [26], and among adolescent girls at senior high school in Maros after receiving iron-folic acid supplementation and multi-micronutrient supplementation (46.3% and 36.8% respectively) [20].
This study found a significant association of balanced diet practice with hypochromic anemia (p=0.048) among adolescent girls. We assume that because of some subjects practice the balanced diet poorly (46.5%), and among them were found 61.5% suffering with microcytic-hypochromic anemia. The type of balanced diet practice that relatively poor i.e. eating a complete meal every meal (rice + fish / eggs + vegetables + fruit + water) was only 39.5%, although this was higher than results of the study conducted by Dwiriani et al. [27] that found the eating practice among majority adolescent in senior high school in three (3) large cities (Bandung, Yogyakarta, Padang) in Indonesia was only 15.5% who eat completely in each meal time. Similarly for having breakfast, more than a half of respondents rarely eat breakfast, only a third of the subjects have their breakfast every day, and skip breakfast was 15.5%. This finding is higher than the study by Abalkhail and Shawky [28] that found 14.9% of students skipping their breakfast. This can be understood because the characteristics of adolescent eating patterns characterized by often refusing to eat, skipping meals, and diet to lose weight excessively resulted in less intake of nutrients and can lead to anemia [5]. Furthermore, only a few female adolescent consume green vegetables every day. It was slightly higher than the findings of Patel et al. (29% vs 24%) [29]. Three kind of plants (green and orange vegetables, and colored fruits) are source of nutrients (iron, folic acid, vitamin C, beta caroten, vitamin E, vitamin B2) [30,31] which can help to prevent microcytic- hypochromic anemia. Panigrahi [26] confirmed the results of this study found that microcytichypochromic anemia in women associated with poor diet. In addition, the consumption of inadequacy of green leafy vegetables positively correlated with microcytichypochromic anemia (p=0.031). There is a definite role of nutritional deprivation in the development of anemia and lack of balanced diet especially deficient in protein group has much stronger association with the type of anemia [32].
It is suggested to optimally socialize the Indonesian balanced diet guidelines to all levels of community, including public schools. We believe that it can be used as a guideline in realizing an optimal public nutritional status and health.

Acknowledgements
Thanks to all students and teachers who involved in this research. Especially to the Research Ministry, Technology and Education of Indonesia Republic which supported by financial aid in implementation this research.

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