الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Background: School-based nutrition education is particularly important because today’s children and adolescents frequently decide what to eat with little adult supervision. Adolescent girls need access to information and services related to nutrition, reproductive health, family planning, and general health. Subjects and Methods: The target population of this study is adolescent girls with ages ranging from 12-14 years. This study was conducted in 3 preparatory schools for girls: Bayad El Arab school (rural Gov), Al- Da’awa school (urban private) and Al Hadeetha school (urban Gov).A stratified random sample was conducted. A self-administrated questionnaire designed to assess knowledge and practice of girls about nutrition. Thereafter, a program was constructed to assist the students to correct and improve their knowledge and to modify their behaviors into sound and healthy ones. For evaluation of the impact of the six months nutritional education program, a final post program test was conducted using the same baseline self-administered questionnaire. Results: Comparisons between the baseline results and the post program findings, it was evident that there is statistically significant improvements of the female students’ knowledge, practice, self efficacy and physical activity (p= 0.001). Conclusion and recommendations: It is mandatory to design and implement educational programs that concentrate on correction of knowledge and modifying practices of students. Such programs will increase students’ awareness about the hazards and future consequences of overweight and fault nutritional practice as well as nutritional-related obesity and metabolic syndrome. Key Words: Educational programs Knowledge Practice Adolescent students Nutrition intervention. |