Malaria
Nutritional status and nutrient intake of preschool children in northern
Ghana.
Takyi EE
East Afr Med J 1999 Sep;76(9):510-5 OBJECTIVE:
To determine the nutritional status and nutrient intake of preschool children
in a sub-Sahelian setting so as to ascertain whether they meet the acceptable
standards. DESIGN: Prospective/investigative study. SETTING: The
study was carried out in Saboba, a rural sub-Sahelian village in northern
Ghana. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and eighteen preschool
children (2.5-6 years) drawn from three kindergartens and five other localities
were used. INTERVENTION: Anthropometric measures of age,
weight, and height were assessed. Blood and stool samples were taken for
analyses. RESULTS: The nutritional status was generally
poor, with 27% (140/519) stunted, 4.4% (23/519) wasted and 1.9% (10/519)
wasted and stunted. Majority of the children (92%) were anaemic and 16.3%
had deficient level of vitamin A (< 10 micrograms/dL). Total caloric
intake was low (only 26.5% met RDA values) and apart from protein and
iron whose RDA were met by the majority of the children (> 90%), the
intake of other nutrients-calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A and provitamin
A, were low and unacceptable, compared to their respective RDA values.
In the case of iron, even though intake was adequate, the high anaemic
rate of 92% was due to high incidence of malaria (32%), hookworm infestation,
low intake of vitamin C and low bioavailability of iron from the mainly
cereal diet. CONCLUSION: The poor nutritional status
of the children was largely due to the low intake of essential nutrients.
PIP Abstract: This prospective study assessed the nutritional
status and nutrient intake of preschool children in rural Saboba, northern
Ghana. Study sample consisted of 518 preschool children aged 2.5-6 years
drawn from 3 kindergartens and 5 other localities. Anthropometric measures
of age, weight, and height were determined. Blood and stool samples were
taken for analyses. Findings revealed that the nutritional status of these
preschool children was poor, with 27% (140/519) stunted, 4.4% (23/519)
wasted, and 1.9% (10/519) wasted and stunted. The majority (92%) of the
children were anemic and 16.3% had a deficient level of vitamin A (10
mcg/dl). Total caloric intake was low (only 26.5% met the Recommended
Dietary Allowance (RDA) values). Apart from protein and iron, whose RDA
values were met in the majority of children (90%), the intake of other
nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and provitamin A were
low and unacceptable compared to their RDA values. Although intake of
iron was sufficient, the high anemic rate (92%) was due to high incidence
of malaria (32%), hookworm infestation, low vitamin C intake, and low
bioavailability of iron from the mainly cereal diet. From these findings
researchers concluded that the poor nutritional status of the children
was due largely to the low intake of essential nutrients. |