Nutritional status of high school students in some districts of Son La province, in 2020

Abstract

Nutrition for students in adolescense is significant essential. It not only affects the health of this age group but also affects the stature of future generations. A cross - sectional study was conducted in 2020 on 3,222 high school students in 3 districts of Son La province to assess the nutritional status, especially stunting. The results showed that the prevalence of stunting was 15.6% at a moderate level of public health problems; the prevalence of stunting among students from ethnic minorities (H’mong, Muong, Xinh Mun) was 33.3%, including Thai ethnicity was 17.3%; Kinh ethnic group was 10.0%; The prevalence of stunting was higher among students with ethnicity, or low levels of physical activity, or students from poor and near-poor economic households, or with low maternal education. The underweight was 5.2%, while the Kinh ethnic group was the highest (7.1%); The prevelance of overweight and obesity was 6.5%. Therefore, interventions to improve nutritional status need to focus on both ethnic groups and households economic difficulties, as well as to promote physical activity in schools.