Dietary Quality and Nutrient Intake Assessment in School Adolescents: A Study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective Assess dietary quality and contribution of school meals to energy and nutrient needs of school adolescents. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 293 adolescents were selected from 20 selected schools. A multiple-pass 24-hour recall method employed to collect dietary intake from adolescents. Then compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) to identify sub-optimal quality, with school meals below two-thirds of the RDA serving as an indicator. Dietary diversity was assessed with a 12-food group score using STATA software. Results The study revealed inadequate nutrition in school meals for adolescents. While school meals provided an adequate contribution of carbohydrates (74.4% of the RDA), the contribution for other nutrients was low: energy (34.1%), protein (42.5%), calcium (9.3%), zinc (14.6%), iron (52.9%), vitamin A (14.0%), thiamine (16.7%), vitamin B12 (12.8%), and niacin (3.8%). The study also revealed a high prevalence of inadequate intakes of priority nutrients among school adolescents, including protein (57.5%), carbohydrates (25.6%), calcium (90.7%), zinc (85.4%), iron (47.1%), vitamin A RAE (86.0%), vitamin C (86.0%), thiamine (83.3%), vitamin B12 (90.2%), and niacin (96.2%). Despite high dietary diversity, key nutrient deficiencies persisted in both school meals and overall 24-hour meals. Conclusion Nutrient deficiencies in school adolescents necessitate prioritizing menu planning with nutrient-dense foods, implementing cost-effective strategies with locally sourced options, establishing nutrition education programs, and collaborating with stakeholders on tailored initiatives like community gardens, local farmer partnerships, and subsidized/free nutritious meals to address deficiencies and promote well-being.