Impact of Milk Feeding on Nutritional Status and Growth Patterns of Schoolgirls: A Quasi-Experimental Study

[Audio] Hi! This study is titled Impact of Milk Feeding on Nutritional Status and Growth Patterns of Schoolgirls: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

[Audio] The optimal nutrition is essential in the adolescence phase as rapid biological growth and development. Thus, investing is the initiatives specifically tailored for adolescents is vital..

[Audio] The role of milk consumption in the growth of this group can be used as an opportunity to improve the existing state of undernutrition among adolescents in the country, particularly young girls.

[Audio] Hence, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of milk feeding on the nutritional status, growth patterns, and caloric intake of schoolgirls..

Objectives. Evaluated the changes on the anthropometric measurements, BMI, and caloric requirement and intake of the schoolgirls before and after milk feeding Investigated the correlations between caloric intake and key health metrics (weight, height, and BMI) before and after milk feeding Prescribed and recommended optimized calorie intake levels to achieve a 'Normal' nutritional status addressing potential gaps in meeting participants' nutritional needs..

[Audio] For the methodology, a Quasi-experimental design was employed in this study. A 200ml locally produced buffalo milk containing 228 calories was given to the 57 study participants for 160 days in selected public elementary schools in Magdalena, Laguna, Philippines..

[Audio] Data collection was conducted between July and December 2018. Anthropometric measurements (i.e., height and weight) and Dietary intake (to compute the Calorie intake) were obtained. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the UPMREB..

[Audio] During data analysis, the following values were computed: BMI and calorie intake are based on the computed individual Estimated energy requirement or EER. The nutritional status was determined using the WHO Reference. Outliers were identified and imputed with median values for BMI and calorie intake..

[Audio] The following data analysis techniques were utilized..

[Audio] The grap shows the percentage distribution of participants across three age groups (10, 11, and 12 years old) at two different points in time: baseline and endline..

[Audio] This table presents baseline and endline measurements for key health and nutrition variables. These findings suggest positive growth and development over the course of the study..

[Audio] On average, the milk contributes approximately 14.3% of the total calorie intake, with a standard deviation of 3.32%. This suggests a moderate level of variability in the extent to which individuals rely on milk for their calorie intake..

[Audio] This data presents the distribution of children across different height-for-age categories at baseline and endline. The McNemar's test indicates a statistically significant change in the distribution of height-for-age categories between baseline and endline. The national estimate for "Normal" height-for-age which is 67.9%, suggesting that the study's baseline percentage was slightly higher than the national average..

[Audio] Moreover, no children were classified as "Severely Thin" at the end of the study. McNemar's test indicates no significant change in the distribution of BMI-for-age categories between baseline and endline. The national estimate for "Normal" BMI for age is 78.3%, and that stunting is medium public health problem for this group..

[Audio] The data also shows significant positive changes across all measured variables indicating improvement in all areas..

[Audio] The heatmap visually represents correlations between caloric intake and key health metrics (BMI, height, and weight) at baseline and endline. In summary, the correlations reflect nuanced shifts in the associations between calorie intake and key health metrics, offering valuable insights into how these factors interacted over time..

[Audio] Finally, at baseline, actual calorie intake stood at 1,032 calories, whereas an optimized intake to achieve a 'Normal' nutritional status based on height-for-age was slightly higher at 1,112 calories. This indicates that, initially, participants were below the recommended intake. Moving to the endline, there was a notable improvement. Actual calorie intake increased to 1,624 calories, and the optimized intake for achieving 'Normal' status rose to 1,729 calories. Despite this progress, both actual and optimized intakes still fell below the calorie requirement of 1,951 calories, indicating a potential gap in meeting participants' nutritional needs..

[Audio] While the study provides valuable insights into the impact of milk feeding on schoolgirls' nutritional status, it is important to consider these strengths and weaknesses when interpreting the results and considering their broader implications..

[Audio] In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance of ongoing nutritional support and monitoring to ensure optimal health outcomes for the participants..

[Audio] For the recommendation: Continue to promote milk consumption, as it significantly contributed to the increase in calorie intake. Work closely with healthcare professionals, including nutritionists and pediatricians, to ensure the best possible care and support. Engage the community, including parents and caregivers, in nutrition education and awareness programs to create a supportive environment for healthy eating habits..

[Audio] Building on the study findings, one can explore the following: •Nutrition education campaign highlighting the importance of milk consumption on school-aged girls' growth and development •School-based nutrition programs such as incorporation of milk drink in school lunches, or installation of vending machines in schools with milk products •And Food product development, particularly a milk product line specially crafted for school-aged girls.

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