Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

IMPACT OF FAST FOODS ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH OF SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN WEST BENGAL, EASTERN INDIA

Purushottam Pramanik & Arunima Dhar

Adolescent is the phase between childhood and adulthood. The most striking change in adolescent girls is the onset of menstruation or menarche. Consumption of fast foods are increasing worldwide among children and adolescent. Dietary habits are closely associated with quality of life of women of reproductive age. Now a day 75% of girls experience some problem associated with menstruation. The aim of our study is to find out the menstrual health status of school going adolescent girls and their association with fast food intake. A cross sectional questionnaires based study was conducted on adolescent girls who attained menarche at least 2 years ago in six secondary and higher secondary schools of West Bengal, eastern India. All students who attained menarche and willing to participate in the study were invited to answer the questionnaires. Questionnaires dealt with menstrual history, dietary habit and fast food intake frequency. Chisquare test was used to compare the frequency of fast food intake among students having menstrual abnormalities and those who do not have menstrual abnormalities. Dysmenorrhea and menstrual abnormalities were the frequent problem of adolescent girls. Significant correlation was noted between frequency of fast food intake with menstrual abnormalities and dysmenorrhea. In girls those take fast food regularly developed menarche in early ages. Our study showed a significant adverse effect of fast food intake on menstrual health status. Thus decreasing the intake of fast food and promoting the healthy eating habits should be emphasized in school health education programs to improve their menstrual health.