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Determinants of Dietary Behaviors of School Going Adolescents in Sudan

Mukhayer AIG, van den Borne HW, Crutzen R and de Vries N

Background: Healthy dietary behaviors are acquired during adolescence and track into adulthood. To promote dietary behaviors of adolescents, studying the predisposing and enabling factors that are associated with dietary behaviors is indispensible. Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between dietary behaviors and attitudes as predisposing factors, and availability and affordability of foods as enabling factors of young adolescents, in the context of a developing country facing instability (i.e. Sudan).

Methodology: A cross sectional self reported questionnaire survey was conducted among 800 students (43.6% Boys and 56.4% Girls), aged 10 to 15 years from 26 basic schools in Omdurman and Khartoum North Localities in Khartoum State.

Results: Multivariate linear regression showed that gender was a significant predictor for the intake of all food groups, except dairy products (fruits and vegetables, energy sources and proteins). There were considerable positive associations between affordability and availability, and the intake of all four food groups, but upon that, food intake was also positively associated with attitudes in terms of liking, particularly among boys.

Conclusions: The findings suggest a remarkable influence of predisposing and enabling factors on the dietary behaviors of adolescents in basic schools. Therefore, actions towards feasible interventions in schools, to enhance balanced dietary behaviors of young adolescents, are mandatory.