Contribution of school meals to folate and associated nutrients intake among in-school adolescent girls in Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> In Ethiopia limited evidence exist regarding the prevalence of inadequate dietary folate intake among adolescent girls and how the school feeding program contributes towards folate intake. <h3>Objective</h3> This study assessed contribution of school meals to folate and associated nutrients intake among in-school adolescent girls in Sidama region, Southern Ethiopia. <h3>Methods</h3> School based cross-sectional study was conducted among 700 adolescent girls. Multistage sampling method was followed to select the study participants. Multiple pass 24-hour dietary recall method was used to assess the dietary intake. Nutrient inadequacy was defined as a dietary intake below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). The contribution of school meals to daily nutrient intake was assessed by calculating their percentage of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for each nutrient, with an ideal target of providing two-thirds of the enrolled group's daily requirements. <h3>Results</h3> About one-fourth, 25.2% (95% CI: 21.9%, 28.4%), of the girls had inadequate folate intake. School meals contributed only 35.3% of the folate RDA for adolescent girls and 33.9% of the actual folate intake. School meals also contributed 47.3% of the iron RDA, 10% of zinc, 9.0% of vitamin C, 8.2% of vitamin A, 5.6% of calcium, and 3.7% of vitamin B-12. High prevalence of inadequacies were noted for vitamin B12 (76.7%), vitamin A (75.8%), vitamin C (66.7%), zinc (60.9%), calcium (54.7%), and iron (19%). <h3>Conclusion</h3> School meals didn't meet folate RDA. A quarter of the adolescent girls had inadequate dietary folate intake<b>.</b> High prevalence of dietary intake inadequacies were also found among adolescent girls. We strongly recommend revising the school meal menu and providing comprehensive nutrition education for girls and parents.