Dietary Practices and Associated Factors among Adolescents in Ghana: Analysis of Global School-Based Health Survey Data

Musfirah Nafees, Student

Adolescence is a critical stage of forming lifelong dietary habits. However, current trends among Ghanaian adolescents indicate a shift towards less nutritious food choices, which can threaten their physical and mental well-being. Unhealthy dietary habits during this developmental phase can lead to long-term health problems, including obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. This study aims to investigate the dietary practices of in-school adolescents in Ghana, focusing on sociodemographic disparities and factors influencing their dietary decisions. Data for this cross-sectional analysis will be sourced from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2012 edition, involving 1,984 in-school adolescents in senior high schools. Dietary practices, the outcome variable, will be categorized into healthy and unhealthy dietary practices. Sociodemographic influences will be assessed through the Chi-square test, and logistic regression will explore the impact of individual traits on healthy eating prevalence. Results will be presented through adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with corresponding confidence intervals, and statistical significance will be set at a p-value < 0.05. Data analysis will be conducted using Stata version 17.0. This research will provide evidence and a basis for understanding the dietary patterns of adolescents in Ghana and the factors that influence and lead adolescents to make such choices.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Health and Morbidity, Families, Unions and Households, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations

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