An investigation of socio-cultural practices and dietary patterns, the presence of double burden of malnutrition in children and their mothers in Grand-Popo, Benin

Date
2018-12-01
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the sociocultural influence, feeding practices and the presence of double burden of malnutrition in children and their mothers in Grand-Popo’s community, Benin. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical approach was used. A sample of 408 children between the ages of 0 to 59 months and their mothers were randomly selected. A questionnaire was developed to compile information on demographic and socio-economic status of the household, breastfeeding, and infant feeding practices. A food frequency questionnaire was administrated to assess dietary patterns and four focus groups with mothers were held to determine care practices and food taboos. Weight and height measurements for children and weight, height, and waist circumference for their mothers were taken. Height for age and weight for height z-scores were determined for the children and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements were calculated for the mothers. For statistical analysis, IBM SPSS version 25 was used. Descriptive and regression analysis were carried out on the data to investigate relationships between the various factors and presence of double burden of malnutrition. Results: Seven districts, in two different areas (rural and peri-urban), with 68.9% of households in rural areas, were surveyed. The mean age of children was 24.45 ± 14.9 months, of which 53.2% was girls. The mean age of mothers was 27.99 ± 6.99 years. The majority of mothers (93.1%) were married or living with their partners. In 96.3% of households, the man is the head. Approximately 91.7% households had a monthly income of $60 (± 760 ZAR) and spent, on average $24 ± $11.2 (R305 – R445) on food. Prevalence of wasting found in children was 9.8% and stunting was 29.7%. Waist circumference mean of mothers was 79.95±10.35 cm and 19.3% were classified to be at high metabolic risk. BMI was also evaluated; 16.9% of mothers were overweight and 7.4% obese. All the children were breastfed, and 56.1% of children under six months received breast milk exclusively. Children were introduced to family foods at five months with very low consumption of animal protein and fruits. Mothers and children had monotonous diets with high consumption of vegetables and maize based meals. In the community surveyed, food taboos particularly during pregnancy, were revealed. Those cultural beliefs were still followed by some mothers and food rich in nutrients were pushed aside. Conclusion: Stunting as well as wasting were highly prevalent in this study population, while mothers’ obesity prevalence could not be ignored. The results drew attention to the need for more effort in interventions to reduce undernutrition, but also to coordinate preventive interventions to stop obesity advance.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Doel: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die sosio-kulturele invloed, voedingspraktyke, en die teenwoordigheid van die dubbele las van wanvoeding by kinders en hul moeders in die Grand-Popo gemeenskap in Benin te ondersoek. Metodes: 'n Deursnit, beskrywende en analitiese benadering is gebruik. 'n Steekproef van 408 kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 0 to 59 maande en hul moeders is lukraak gekies. 'n Vraelys is ontwikkel om inligting oor die demografiese en sosio-ekonomiese status van die huishouding, asook borsvoeding-, en babavoedingspraktyke te versamel. ‘n Voedsel- frekwensie vraelys is voltooi om dieetpatrone te bestudeer. Vier fokusgroepe met moeders is gehou om versorgingspraktyke en voedseltaboes te bepaal. Kinders se gewig en lengte is gemeet en hul moeders se gewig, lengte en middellyf omtrek bepaal. Lengte- vir-ouderdom en gewig- vir- lengte z-tellings is bepaal vir kinders, en liggaamsmassa indeks (LMI) metings is vir moeders bereken. Vir statistiese analise is die IBM SPSS weergawe 25 gebruik. Beskrywende en regressie-analise is uitgevoer op die data om die verhoudings tussen die verskillende faktore en die teenwoordigheid van die dubbele las van wanvoeding, te ondersoek. Resultate: Huishoudings in sewe distrikte, in twee verskillende gebiede (landelik en buitestedelik) was ondervra, waarvan die meerderheid (68,9%) in landelike gebiede woonagtig is. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die kinders is 24,45 ± 14,9 maande en 53,2% is vroulik. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van moeders is 27,99 ± 6,99 jaar. Die meerderheid moeders (93.1%) was getroud of het saam met hul gade gewoon. In 96,3% huishoudings was die man die hoof broodwinner. Ongeveer 91,7% huishoudings het 'n maandelikse inkomste van $ 60 (± 760 ZAR) gehad waarvan daar gemiddeld $ 24 ± $ 11.2 (R305 tot R445) op kos spandeer is. Die voorkoms van uittering onder die kinders was 9.8% en dwerggroei was 29.7%. Moeders se gemiddelde totale middelomtrek was 79,95 ± 10,35cm en 19,3% is geklassifiseer om in die groep te val wat ‘n hoë metaboliese risiko het. LMI is ook geëvalueer: 16,9% moeders was oorgewig en 7,4% vetsugtig. Al die kinders was geborsvoed, 56,1% kinders jonger as ses maande is eksklusief geborsvoed. Kinders was teen vyf maande bekendgestel aan gesinsvoedsel met ‘n baie lae inname van dierlike proteïene en vrugte. Moeders en kinders het eentonige diëte gevolg, wat hoofsaaklik bestaan het uit groente en mielie-gebaseerde etes. Voedsel taboes in hierdie gemeenskap speel veral ‘n rol tydens swangerskap. Hierdie kulturele oortuigings word steeds deur sommige moeders uitgeleef dus word voedsel wat ryk is aan voedingstowwe opsy geskuif. Gevolgtrekking: Beide dwerggroei en uittering is baie algemeen in hierdie studiepopulasie, terwyl die voorkoms van vetsugtigheid onder moeders nie geïgnoreer kan word nie. Die resultate vestig nie net die aandag op die behoefte dat daar meer moeite gedoen moet word met intervensies om wanvoeding te verminder nie, maar dat voorkomende intervensies om toenemende vetsugtigheid te verminder, gekoördineerd moet plaasvind.
Description
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Malnutrition -- Grand-Popo (Benin), Malnutrition in children -- Grand-Popo (Benin), Preschool children -- Nutrition -- Cultural aspects -- Grand-Popo (Benin), UCTD
Citation