Nutritional, and WASH Related Education Intervention to Address Malnutrition of Early Adolescents in Pakistan

Globally, one of the major risk factor for adolescent's morbidity is considered Malnutrition. Worldwide adolescent age group 10-19 is increasing and they are at increased risk of malnutrition related diseases resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Asian countries are suffering with the double burden of malnutrition including Pakistan. The risk factors that contribute to malnutrition in the population includes unsafe drinking water, poor sanitary conditions, lack of proper waste disposal facilities, poor health awareness, poor nutrition and hygiene. However, studies have shown that nutrition education, and water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) programmes in the schools are effective strategies to promote the health status of the adolescents (girls and boys). The primary objective of this study is to determine a school based nutrition and WASH education intervention to improve nutritional status among early adolescents.