JOURNAL OF LIAONING TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
(NATURAL SCIENCE EDITION)
LIAONING GONGCHENG JISHU DAXUE XUEBAO (ZIRAN KEXUE BAN)
辽宁工程技术大学学报（自然科学版）
BALANCED DIET BEHAVIOUR OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN INDONESIAN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL
Safirah Mujahidah Syamsari*, Veni Hadju, Abd. Razak Thaha, Burhanuddin Bahar, Rahayu Indriasari, Healthy Hidayanty
Abstract
Background: Poor balanced diet behaviour is one of the causes of nutritional problems in adolescent girls. The study aimed to examine the characteristics of adolescent girls in Islamic boarding schools and their correlation with balanced diet behaviour. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2023 at Darul Khair Islamic Boarding School in Banggai, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study involved 53 adolescents aged 12–18 years. The variables collected included adolescent and household characteristics, knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude, and practice regarding a balanced diet. Results: Most subjects were 15-18 (60.4%) and came from farming/fishing families (58.5%) with minimum wage. No significant relationship exists between girls' education levels, parents' education and income, and their knowledge, self-efficacy, attitudes, and practices about balanced diet (P > 0.05). Subjects with higher-educated parents were less aware and had negative attitudes toward healthy eating, while those from lower-educated families had poorer dietary habits. Subjects with lower-educated mothers and higher-educated fathers had lower self-efficacy, and those from families earning below the minimum wage had limited knowledge and negative perceptions and habits regarding balanced diets. Subjects still exhibit deficiencies in adopting balanced diet behaviours, including personal hygiene, adherence to recommended water intake, consumption of vegetables and fruits, intake of animal protein sources, implementation of guidelines and pillars of a balanced diet, and regulation of sugar, salt, and fat consumption. Additionally, there is a lack of engagement in physical activities as recommended. Conclusions: Adolescent girl's characteristics do not influence balanced diet behaviour.
Keywords: Adolescent girls, Balanced Diet, Behaviour, Islamic Boarding School.