Table 2 Fasting characteristics of participating pupils in JHS
From: Ramadan fasting alters food patterns, dietary diversity and body weight among Ghanaian adolescents
Characteristic | Summary values |
|---|---|
Age started fasting (n = 366), mean ± SD | 11.2 ± 2.5a |
Days fasted during Ramadan (n = 366), mean ± SD | 28.3 ± 3.6d |
Fasting duration within a day (hours) (n = 366), mean ± SD | 14.3 ± 0.54b |
Days missed fasting (mean ± SD) | 1.73 ± 3.59d |
Reasons for missing fasting, n (%) | |
 Could not wake up in good time | 7 (6.7)c |
 Was sick | 42 (40.0)c |
 Menstruation (girls) | 52 (49.5)c |
 Others | 4 (3.8)c |
Parents fasting? (n = 363), n (%) | |
 Yes | 356 (98.1) |
Encouragement to fast (n = 351), n (%) | |
 Father | 142 (40.5)b |
 Mother | 140 (39.9)b |
 Sibling | 15 (4.3)b |
 Uncle | 13 (3.7)b |
 Spiritual leader | 3 (0.9)b |
 Others | 38 (10.8)b |
Reasons for fasting (n = 334), n (%) | |
 Spiritual growth (blessing) | 144 (43.1)b |
 It is compulsory | 80 (24.0)b |
 Parents fasting | 27 (8.1)b |
 For good health | 10 (3.0)b |
 Other reasons | 73 (21.9)b |
Continued fasting after Ramadan (n = 366), n (%) | |
 No | 220 (60.1)d |
Days fasted after Ramadan (n = 146), mean ± SD | 5.38 ± 1.55d |
Reasons for fasting after Ramadan (n = 146), n (%) | |
 Obeying religious recommendation | 83 (56.8)d |
 Replacing missed days | 52 (35.6)d |
 Others | 11 (7.5)d |
Sickness during Ramadan? (n = 366), n (%) | |
 No | 231 (63.1)c |
Type of sickness during Ramadan (n = 135), n (%) | |
 Malaria | 30 (22.2)c |
 Diarrhoea | 35 (25.9)c |
 Others | 70 (51.9)c |
Source of midline fasting food (n = 366), n (%) | |
 Gifts | 35 (9.6) |
 Purchase | 87 (23.8) |
 Home | 236 (64.5) |
 others | 8 (2.2) |
Source of end line fasting food (n = 366), n (%) | |
 Gifts | 42 (11.5) |
 Buying | 74 (20.2) |
 Home  | 243 (66.4) |
 Others | 7 (1.9) |