AUTHOR=Patil Suvarna , Joglekar Charudatta , Desai Maruti , Yadav Arvind , Sonawane Swati , Chavan Rupali , Mohite Rachana 

TITLE=Nutritional Status and Psychological Impairment in Rural Adolescent Girls: Pilot Data From “KOKAN” Region of Western India

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00160

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2018.00160

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background
Adolescence is a period during which psychological foundations are laid down as well as consolidated.  Not much information is available on rural Indian adolescent girls and their psychological health. 
Methods
We did a pilot survey of psychological health of 80 adolescent girls residing at KONKAN region of western India.Psychological health was evaluated using Youth Paediatric Symptom Checklist (Y-PSC) consisting of 35 items with maximum score of 70. Those above score of 30 were classified as psychologically impaired. In addition we also collected random blood sample and measured the micronutrients. Macronutrient intake was estimated by 24 hour recall.
Results
The girls were 14y old ( sd 1.5). In all 35/76 (46.1%) could be classified as psychosocially impaired.  There was a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies with varying degrees. More than 65% were deficient in calcium, zinc and folic acid. About  22% were anaemic and 36% were vitamin B1 deficient. More than 75% had a low RDA of  macronutrients. Those with poor serum calcium concentration had higher psychological score (p<0.05). Fat and calcium intakes were inversely associated with psychological score ( p <0.05 and p <0.001 respectively). Odds ratios for psychological impairment were significant for those with low calcium levels (1.47 (95% CI 1.21, 4.31)), and for those with low calcium intake 1.43 (1.08, 4.21) and low iron intake 3.04 (1.02, 9.26).
Conclusion
Our pilot data has shown the urgent need to improve the nutrition of adolescent girls, which could improve their psychological health.