Household dietary practices and family nutritional status in rural Ghana

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

A cross-sectional study involving 400 mothers was conducted in the Manya Krobo district of Ghana with the objective of studying household dietary practices, quality of diets and family nutritional status of rural Ghana. A combination of methods, including structured interviews using questionnaire, dietary assessments and anthropometry was used to collect data for the study. The data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 10 in Windows. Means and standard deviations were generated for continuous variables and frequency distribution for categorical variables. Most women consumed meals three times a day but only a few (12.5%) cooked all three meals at home. Breakfast and lunch were the two main meals purchased from food vendors. The most frequently consumed food items on daily basis were the starchy staples, maize, fish, pepper, onion, tomato and palm fruits. The nutritional qualities of diets were poor in terms of calcium and the B-vitamins. A significant proportion of the women were nutritionally at risk of being either underweight (12%), overweight (17%) or obese (5%). For adequate nutrition in this population, nutrition education intervention programs aimed at improving nutrient intake through improved diet diversity and increased use of local foods rich in calcium and the B-vitamins needs to be undertaken. There is also the need to intensify education on excessive weight gain and its attendant health problems in the area.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Subjects and Methods
• Results and Discussion
• Acknowledgement
• Literature cited

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 McCullough AL, "Vitamin B6 status of Egyptian mothers: Relation to infant behaviour and maternal - infant interactions" 51 : 1067-1074, 1990

2 Maxwell D, "Urban livelihoods, food and nutrition security in Greater Accra" International Food Policy Research Institute 2000

3 National Academy of Sciences, "Recommended dietary allowances" National Academy Press 1989

4 Gibson RS, "Principles of Nutritional Assessment" Oxford University Press 1990

5 WHO, "Physical Status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee" The use and interpretation of anthropometry.Report of a WHO Expert Committee.WHO Technical series 854.WHO,Geneva.Switzerland 1995

6 Guldan GS, "Maternal education and child feeding practices in Bangladesh" 36 : 925-935, 1993

7 Plahar WA, "Household food availability and consumption behaviour in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana" Food Research Institute 1999

8 GSS, "Ghana Demographic and Health Survey"

9 ACC/SCN, "Fourth Report of the World Nutrition Situation" 2000

10 Krause MV, "Food, nutrition and diet therapy" W.B. Saunders & Co. 1984

11 Neumann CG, "Food intake during acute illness and convalescence in Kenyan toddlers" 8 : A2550-, 1992

12 Torun B, "Energy Supplementation and work performance. Summary of INCAP Studies" 1989

13 Eyeson KK, "Composition of foods commonly used in Ghana"

14 Engle PL, "Care and nutrition: Concepts and measurements" IFPRI 1997