scholarly journals Does Household Food Insecurity Affect the Nutritional Status of Preschool Children Aged 6–36 Months?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahama Saaka ◽  
Shaibu Mohammed Osman

Introduction. This study used three dependent measures of food security to assess the magnitude of household food insecurity and its consequences on the nutritional status of children 6–36 months in Tamale Metropolis of Northern Ghana. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 337 mother/child pairs in June 2012. Food access was measured as household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), household dietary diversity score (HDDS), and food consumption score (FCS). Results. The magnitude of household food insecurity depended on the food access indicator, with HFIAS yielding the highest household food insecurity of 54%. Of the three food access indicators, 30-day HFIAS was not related to any of the nutrition indices measured. HDDS and FCS were both significantly associated with BMI of mothers and chronic malnutrition (stunted growth) but not acute malnutrition (wasting) with FCS being a stronger predictor of nutritional status. Compared to children in food insecure households, children in food secure households were 46% protected from chronic malnutrition (, 95% CI: 0.31–0.94). Conclusions and Recommendations. The results of this study show that different measures of household food insecurity produce varied degree of the problem. Efforts at reducing chronic child malnutrition should focus on improving the adequacy of the diet.

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-10
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdurahman

Background: Consuming scarce and poorly diversified diet, along with inadequate breastfeeding, contribute seriously to the complete scope of child undernutrition like stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiency. Objective: To determine the association between dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutritional status among children aged 24 to 59 months in Haromaya district, Ethiopia. Methods: Children aged 24-59 months (N= 453) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study with a representative sample of households selected by a multistage sampling procedure in Haromaya district. Anthropometry and 24hr dietary recall were administered. Multinomial logistic regression models were applied to select variables that are candidate for multivariable model. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the mediatory effect of DDS on the relationship between household food insecurity (HFI) and child nutritional status. Results: The mean DDS was 3.62 (SD 1.09), and 50% of the children indicated poor and average DDS with only 20% children in very good DDS. By logistic regression analysis and after adjusting for the confounding factors, poor DDS was highly significant predictor of wasting, stunting and underweight (AOR = 4.09, C.I = 1.31 - 12.76, p = .01), (AOR = 2.28, C.I = 1.11 - 4.69, p = .03) and (AOR = 2.48, C.I = 1.17 - 5.24, p = .02) respectively. HFI had a significant direct effect on wasting though no significant indirect effect on wasting through mediation variable, DDS, (β1 reduced from 0.06 (S.E. = 0.027, p < .05) to 0.05 (S.E. = 0.028, p > .05). Conclusion: Poor DDS was a predictor of wasting, stunting and underweight. Additionally, DDS had a role in the association between HFI and nutritional status.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-10
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdurahman

Background: Consuming scarce and poorly diversified diet, along with inadequate breastfeeding, contribute seriously to the complete scope of child undernutrition like stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiency. Objective: To determine the association between dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutritional status among children aged 24 to 59 months in Haromaya district, Ethiopia. Methods: Children aged 24-59 months (N= 453) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study with a representative sample of households selected by a multistage sampling procedure in Haromaya district. Anthropometry and 24hr dietary recall were administered. Multinomial logistic regression models were applied to select variables that are candidate for multivariable model. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the mediatory effect of DDS on the relationship between household food insecurity (HFI) and child nutritional status. Results: The mean DDS was 3.62 (SD 1.09), and 50% of the children indicated poor and average DDS with only 20% children in very good DDS. By logistic regression analysis and after adjusting for the confounding factors, poor DDS was highly significant predictor of wasting, stunting and underweight (AOR = 4.09, C.I = 1.31 - 12.76, p = .01), (AOR = 2.28, C.I = 1.11 - 4.69, p = .03) and (AOR = 2.48, C.I = 1.17 - 5.24, p = .02) respectively. HFI had a significant direct effect on wasting though no significant indirect effect on wasting through mediation variable, DDS, (β1 reduced from 0.06 (S.E. = 0.027, p < .05) to 0.05 (S.E. = 0.028, p > .05). Conclusion: Poor DDS was a predictor of wasting, stunting and underweight. Additionally, DDS had a role in the association between HFI and nutritional status.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wondu Garoma Berra

Background. Despite mixed reports, food insecurity emerges as a predictor of nutritional status, assumably limiting the quantity and quality of dietary intake. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of childhood undernutrition and food insecurity is highly pronounced. However, whether household food insecurity predicts undernutrition in children was not yet well established. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify the link between household food access and undernutrition in children aged 6–23 months in West Oromia zones, Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 525 households during June–October 2016. Food access was measured as Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Semistructured interviewer-administered questionnaires were employed to collect data on sociodemographics, child health, child dietary practices, household food security, and anthropometrics. The height and weight of children aged 6–23 months in each household were measured. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and child nutritional status measured from undernutrition indicators. Results. Overall, more than two-thirds (69%) of households were classified as food insecure (had insufficient access to adequate food), with a mean (SD) household food access score of 7.9 (7.7). The respective prevalence of mild and moderate food-insecure households was 56.6% and 12.4%. Higher proportions of children in food-insecure households were stunted (41.8% vs. 15.5%), underweight (22.0% vs. 6.1%), and wasted (14.9% vs. 6.1%). Overall, the prevalence of child undernutrition was 21.3% in the target population, with 16.2% stunted, 6.9% underweight, and 6.3% wasted. The present finding shows food-secure households were 54% protective (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25–0.84) for child undernutrition. Compared to children in food-secure households, children who were reportedly living in moderately food-insecure households were over twice more likely stunted (OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.02–4.28) and over 4 times more likely underweight (OR: 4.73, 95% CI: 1.81–12.35). However, household food insecurity was not a correlate for acute malnutrition (wasting) in children. Conclusions. The prevalence of household’s food insecurity situation is very common and more pronounced among households with undernourished children aged 6–23 months in Ethiopia. The analysis of this work shows that moderately food-insecure households are a salient predictor for composite undernutrition, stunting, and underweight, but not for wasting. Thus, this finding informs the need for multisectoral strategies and policies to combat household’s food insecurity and multiple forms of child undernutrition, beyond the socioeconomic wellbeing.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 2906-2914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrashekhar T Sreeramareddy ◽  
N Ramakrishnareddy ◽  
Mayoori Subramaniam

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between household food insecurity score and Z-scores of childhood nutritional status indicators.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional survey, Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011.SettingA nationally representative sample of 11 085 households selected by a two-stage, stratified cluster sampling design to interview eligible men and women.SubjectsChildren (n 2591) aged 0–60 months in a sub-sample of households selected for men’s interview.ResultsPrevalence of moderate and severe household food insecurity was 23·2 % and 19·0 %, respectively, for children aged 0–60 months. Weighted prevalence rates for stunting (height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) <−2), wasting (weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) <−2) and underweight (weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) <−2) were 41·6 % (95 % CI 38·9, 44·3 %), 11·5 % (95 % CI 9·8, 13·2 %) and 30·1 % (95 % CI 27·5, 32·8 %), respectively. Prevalences of stunting, severe stunting (HAZ<−3) and underweight by level of household food insecurity were statistically significant (P<0·001). By multiple linear regression analyses and after adjustment for sociodemographic, child and environmental factors, household food access insecurity score was associated with HAZ (β=−0·02, P=0·01) and WAZ (β=−0·01, P=0·01) but was not associated with WHZ and BMI-for-age Z-score. A 10-point increase in household food access insecurity score was associated with a decrease in HAZ of 0·2 (95 % CI 0·05, 0·39) and decrease in WAZ of 0·1 (95 % CI 0·03, 0·27).ConclusionsOur results from a nationally representative sample confirm the previously reported association of household food insecurity with stunting and underweight. Community nutrition interventions may use household food insecurity scales for identifying those households where children may be at risk of growth faltering.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3185-3196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fungo ◽  
John Muyonga ◽  
Margaret Kabahenda ◽  
Archileo Kaaya ◽  
Clement A Okia ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the contribution of forest foods to dietary intake and estimate their association with household food insecurity.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted among 279 households. Using a 7 d recall questionnaire, information on household food consumption was collected from women and used to determine the household dietary diversity score, food variety score and forest food consumption score (FFCS). Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score was determined and Spearman rank correlation was used to establish the relationship between consumption of forest foods and HFIAS score. Women’s dietary intake was estimated from two 24 h recalls. The contribution of forest foods to women’s nutrient intakes was calculated and women’s nutrient intakes were compared with estimated average nutrient requirements.SettingRural forest-dependent households in twelve villages in eastern and southern Cameroon.SubjectsHousehold heads and their non-pregnant, non-lactating spouses.ResultsForty-seven unique forest foods were identified; of these, seventeen were consumed by 98 % of respondents over the course of one week and by 17 % of women during the two 24 h recall periods. Although forest foods contributed approximately half of women’s total daily energy intake, considerably greater contributions were made to vitamin A (93 %), Na (100 %), Fe (85 %), Zn (88 %) and Ca (89 %) intakes. Despite a highly biodiverse pool of foods, most households (83 %) suffered from high food insecurity based on the HFIAS. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the HFIAS score and the FFCS (r2=−0·169, P=0·0006), demonstrating that forest foods play an important role in ensuring food security in these forest-dependent communities.ConclusionsForest foods are widely consumed by forest-dependent communities. Given their rich nutrient content, they have potential to contribute to food and nutrition security.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunhee Kang ◽  
Kristen M Hurley ◽  
Julie Ruel-Bergeron ◽  
Assumpta Bou Monclus ◽  
Rachel Oemcke ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity in the past 24h (dietary diversity score (DDS, range: 0–9); minimum dietary diversity (MDD, consumption of three or more food groups); consumption of nine separate food groups) among pregnant and lactating women in rural Malawi.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingTwo rural districts in Central Malawi.SubjectsPregnant (n 589) and lactating (n 641) women.ResultsOf surveyed pregnant and lactating women, 66·7 and 68·6 %, respectively, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity and only 32·4 and 28·1 %, respectively, met MDD. Compared with food-secure pregnant women, those who reported severe food insecurity had a 0·36 lower DDS (P<0·05) and more than threefold higher risk (OR; 95 % CI) of not consuming meat/fish (3·19; CI 1·68, 6·03). The risk of not consuming eggs (3·77; 1·04, 13·7) was higher among moderately food-insecure pregnant women. Compared with food-secure lactating women, those who reported mild, moderate and severe food insecurity showed a 0·36, 0·44 and 0·62 lower DDS, respectively (all P<0·05). The risk of not achieving MDD was higher among moderately (1·95; 1·06, 3·59) and severely (2·82; 1·53, 5·22) food-insecure lactating women. The risk of not consuming meat/fish and eggs increased in a dose–response manner among lactating women experiencing mild (1·75; 1·01, 3·03 and 2·81; 1·09, 7·25), moderate (2·66; 1·47, 4·82 and 3·75; 1·40, 10·0) and severe (5·33; 2·63, 10·8 and 3·47; 1·19, 10·1) food insecurity.ConclusionsAddressing food insecurity during and after pregnancy needs to be considered when designing nutrition programmes aiming to increase dietary diversity in rural Malawi.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bealu Betebo ◽  
Tekle Ejajo ◽  
Fissahaye Alemseged ◽  
Desalegn Massa

Background. Ethiopia has one of the highest child malnutrition rates in the world. Food insecurity is one of the determinant factors of malnutrition in developing countries; however its role remains unclear.Objective. To assess household food insecurity and its association with the nutritional status of children 6–59 months of age in East Badawacho District, South Ethiopia.Methods. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 20 to 30, 2014 on a sample of 508 mother/child pairs of 6–59-month-old children. Sample households with eligible children were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Both bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify factors associated with nutritional status of children.Pvalue of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Result. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 75.8%. The prevalence rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children were 45.6%, 26.3%, and 14.6%, respectively. Household food insecurity was significantly associated with underweight (AOR = 3.82; CI = 1.78–8.19) and stunting (AOR = 6.7; CI = 3.71–12.1) but not with wasting.Conclusion and Recommendation. Household food insecurity and the prevalence rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting, among children 6 to 59 months, were high. Intervention programs should focus on improving household food insecurity and nutritional status of children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahama Saaka ◽  
Sofo Mutaru ◽  
Shaibu Mohammed Osman

Abstract There is little information regarding factors that determine dietary diversity among pregnant women in Ghana. The present study, therefore, sought to assess the independent predictors of dietary diversity and its relationship with nutritional status of pregnant women in the Northern Region of Ghana. The present study was an analytical cross-sectional survey involving 423 pregnant women in different stages of gestation. The 24-h dietary recall method was used to assess minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W), and nutritional status was assessed using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between maternal dietary diversity and maternal thinness and a P value of <0⋅05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 423 women, 79⋅9 % (95 % CI 76⋅1, 83⋅7) met the MDD-W and the prevalence of undernutrition among the pregnant women was 26⋅0 %. The analysis showed that women of low household wealth index were 48 % less likely (AOR 0⋅52, CI 0⋅31, 0⋅88) of meeting the MDD-W, whereas women from households of poor food insecurity were 88 % less likely (AOR 0⋅12, CI 0⋅05, 0⋅27) of achieving the MDD-W. Women of low household size were three times more likely of meeting the MDD-W (AOR 3⋅07, CI 1⋅13, 8⋅39). MDD-W was not associated with maternal underweight during pregnancy. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that food insecurity and not low MDD-W, associated with mothers’ thinness (underweight) during pregnancy in peri-urban setting of Northern Ghana.


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