Nutritional Status of Adolescent Afghan Refugees Living in Peshawar, Pakistan

By:
Anum Saeedullah, Muhammad Shabir Khan, Simon C. Andrews, Khalid Iqbal, Zia Ul-Haq, Syed Abdul Qadir, Haris Khan, Ishawu Iddrisu, Muhammad Shahzad
Date:
2021
Resource type:
Blogs/news/opinion
Link:

This study assesses the nutritional status of Afghan adolescent refugees living in Peshawar, Pakistan. Among the 206 adolescents surveyed, 35.3% were stunted, 4.4% were underweight, and 14.8% were overweight or obese. High levels of micronutrient deficiencies were identified, including vitamin D deficiency (80.5%), vitamin B12 deficiency (41.9%), and anemia (10.1%).

The findings indicate that adolescent refugees experience a double burden of malnutrition, facing both undernutrition and obesity risks. The study highlights the need for regular nutritional screening and interventions tailored to this vulnerable population.

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