• Dr.Rubha.M.S

IMPACT OF PEER GROUP NUTRITION EDUCATION AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT ABSTRACT Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and adulthood. The rapid physical changes of an adolescent have direct influence on a person’s nutritional needs. Imparting nutrition education to adolescence is an important tool to enhance the nutrition status of future generation. The study was carried out in Thoothukudi district. There are about 13029 girls aged between 12-14 years in all the schools out of which data were collected from 530(four per cent) by using cluster random sampling methods. They were grouped in to two groups namely Experimental Group (265) and Control Group (265).The nutritional status was assessed by using anthropometry measurement, Bio- chemical assessment, clinical examination, dietary survey and also examined the knowledge, practice, and attitude (KAP) on nutrition, nutritional deficiency and its symptoms. Nutrition education was given to experimental group by seventy five peer group educators called communicators for ten months. Results revealed after the nutrition education the respondents in control group 76 per cent of the respondents were indicating underweight. But in the experimental group, about 33 per cent were under weight and majority (60%) of the respondents were normal. Statistically, significant at 5 per cent level. The control group 20 per cent respondents and in the experimental group fifty three per cent were moderate anaemia. Experimental group intakes of the nutrients were improved. Among the two groups after the nutrition education the experimental group scored more knowledge, attitude, practices on hundred percent, the KAP level of all the respondents in the experimental group improved in the peer involvement, peer education plays an important role to their dietary habits.

Nutrition education, Adolescent girls

"IMPACT OF PEER GROUP NUTRITION EDUCATION AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no.447-452, March-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1903759.pdf

"IMPACT OF PEER GROUP NUTRITION EDUCATION AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no. pp447-452, March-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1903759.pdf