ASSESSING FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE UPTAKE OF MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN REFUGEE CAMPS

Abstract
Nutrition of adolescent girls and adolescent women in low to medium income countries (LMICs) is especially important because of the high burden and severe consequences of malnutrition. Unfortunately, an estimated 41% of all forcibly displaced people are children and many of these children live in refugee camps. Thus, a multi-sectoral approach to food and nutrition response in conflict settings has been advocated. Therefore, a mixed methods study was conducted to assess factors that affect the uptake of micronutrient supplements among adolescent girls in refugee camps. Nine adolescent girls at Dzaleka refugee camp were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and open-ended questions. The data was analysed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The study findings point to inadequate knowledge about micronutrient supplements, particularly among primary school going girls. Also, attitudes towards micronutrient supplements were negative largely because programs that promote the supplements are low-scale and irregular. Some of the caregivers, including parents, relatives and teachers, do encourage adolescent girls to take micronutrient supplements for their nutritional wellbeing and good health. Going forward, adolescent girls would like to see that micronutrient supplements are readily available both at the camp clinic and in schools. Also, there is need for large-scale micronutrient supplementation in the refugee camp with schools as entry points and couple with nutrition education campaigns.
ASSESSING
Nutrition of adolescent girls and adolescent women in low to medium income countries (LMICs) is especially important because of the high burden and severe consequences of malnutrition. Unfortunately, an estimated 41% of all forcibly displaced people are children and many of these children live in refugee camps. Thus, a multi-sectoral approach to food and nutrition response in conflict settings has been advocated. Therefore, a mixed methods study was conducted to assess factors that affect the uptake of micronutrient supplements among adolescent girls in refugee camps. Nine adolescent girls at Dzaleka refugee camp were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and open-ended questions. The data was analysed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The study findings point to inadequate knowledge about micronutrient supplements, particularly among primary school going girls. Also, attitudes towards micronutrient supplements were negative largely because programs that promote the supplements are low-scale and irregular. Some of the caregivers, including parents, relatives and teachers, do encourage adolescent girls to take micronutrient supplements for their nutritional wellbeing and good health. Going forward, adolescent girls would like to see that micronutrient supplements are readily available both at the camp clinic and in schools. Also, there is need for large-scale micronutrient supplementation in the refugee camp with schools as entry points and couple with nutrition education campaigns.