Overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2024-05, Vol.103 (21), p.e38271-e38271
• Main Authors: Mandefro, Miheret, Shore, Hirbo, Hailu, Saba, Ayele, Firayad, Tekola, Abainash, Shawel, Samrawit, Kassa, Obsan, Tamire, Aklilu, Masrie, Awoke, Gezahegn, Anteneh, Gebru, Tilaye, Roba, Kedir Teji, Gebremichael, Berhe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Overweight - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Private Sector - statistics & numerical data; Public Sector; Risk Factors; Schools; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038271

Adolescent overweight and obesity are growing public health concerns in developing nations like Ethiopia. They are closely linked to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, a deterioration in health-related quality of life, subpar academic performance, and a decline in social and emotional well-being. There is, however, little research in this field. Thus, this study aimed to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors among public and private secondary school adolescent students in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia. A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 secondary school adolescents in Harar city from February to March 2022. Multi-stage sampling was used to identify 781 study participants (586 in public and 195 in private schools). Anthropometric measures and self-administered structured questionnaires were used to obtain the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the association between independent variables and overweight and obesity. Statistical significance was declared at P