The Adolescent’s Quality of Life in the Gaza Strip: Nutritional and Psychological Risk Factors

Currently, more in-depth interest had been paid globally to the issues relating to nutrition, growth, development and psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents. Hence, this research aimed to identify and assess the nutritional and psychological risk factors affecting the life quality of adolescents in the Gaza Strip in order to highlight and prioritize them for future interventions. There are four objectives in this study, the first is to determine and assess the risk factors associated with two different components of life quality of adolescents in the Gaza Strip, the second is to measure the extent of psychological disorders amongst adolescents affected by current lifestyle in Gaza, the third is to study in depth the effect of nutritional status in the Gaza Strip on adolescent's life quality, whilst, the fourth is to identify research gaps to set priorities for future relevant studies, that might encourage adolescent's behavioural changes. In order to achieve these objectives, the study population had been focused on adolescents (12- 19 years old) who enrolled in the schools of the Gaza Strip during the academic year (2015-2016). The present Cross-sectional study utilized quantitative and qualitative measures by incorporating face to face interview questionnaire with adolescents and focus group discussion with parents and stakeholders. In addition, anthropometric measurements and micronutrients tests were conducted. Triangulation of data was used to ensure the credibility of the results.