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Malnutrition among South Asian adolescents : a mixed methods study
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Estecha Querol, Sara (2022) Malnutrition among South Asian adolescents : a mixed methods study. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3834660
Abstract
Malnutrition is a highly prevalent and persistent problem in developing countries, and its consequences for chronic disease management come at a high human and economic cost. While undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency rates remain highly concerning in South Asia, this region faces the new challenge of overnutrition. Adolescence provides a window of opportunity for improving nutrition. Yet, the burden of malnutrition among adolescents remains unattended and insufficiently investigated. This doctoral thesis aimed to produce a nuanced understanding of malnutrition among South Asian adolescents and identify factors improving or worsening malnutrition among Pakistani adolescents attending schools.
A mixed-methods approach was used to address the overall aim of the thesis. The pragmatic paradigm underpins the current thesis. Pragmatism was suitable for this research because malnutrition is a complex global health issue, and using a mixed-methods approach enabled a richer understanding of the relationship between adolescent malnutrition and its drivers. In addition, a conceptual framework was developed and a scoping review was conducted to guide this research.
The quantitative and qualitative data were collected in parallel and analysed separately. In this thesis, the secondary quantitative data analysis calculated the burden of malnutrition among schooled adolescents living in the eight South Asian countries: stunting was 13%, thinness 11% and overweight 11% at the South Asian level. Factors associated with malnutrition were age, hygine behaviours, social support, tobacco and sedentary behaviours. The qualitative study used photodiaries and interviews to explore awareness and perspectives of malnutrition among schooled adolescents living in a slum in Pakistan. Food consistently underpinned participants’ narratives and photodiaries which was reflected in how they made sense of malnutrition: overnutrition was an excess of food and undernutrition was a lack of food. Finally, the findings from both approaches were interpreted and connected by discussing to what extent and in what ways they relate to each other and produce a complete understanding of adolescent malnutrition in South Asia.
The thesis suggested future work addressing adolescent malnutrition in South Asia, some of which are relevant to Pakistan and slum settings. Ultimately, this thesis developed several recommendations for policymakers and healthcare organisations delivering adolescent health and nutrition actions in South Asia.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Malnutrition in children -- South Asia, Malnutrition in children -- Pakistan, Teenagers -- Nutrition -- South Asia, Teenagers -- Health and hygiene -- South Asia | ||||
Official Date: | 2022 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Warwick Medical School | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Gill, Paramjit ; Al-Khudairy, Lena ; Iqbal, Romaina | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | xviii, 298 leaves : illustrations | ||||
Language: | eng |
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