Masters Degrees (Human Nutrition)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/100756

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Human Nutrition) by Author "Beukes, Ronel A. (Ronel Annamarie)"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The longitudinal growth and feeding practices of infants from birth to twelve months
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-12) Beukes, Ronel A. (Ronel Annamarie); Labadarios, D.; Kirsten, G.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciiplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is a silent emergency. WHO estimates that 55% of all child deaths in developing countries are associated with malnutrition. Inadequate dietary intake and disease are the two immediate causes of malnutrition. The underlying causes are household food insecurity, inadequate maternal and child-care and poor water/ sanitation and inadequate health services. Stunting is a major problem in pre-school children in South Africa. This indicates a long term inadequate dietary intake. Furthermore, the initiation of breastfeeding in South Africa is about 90%, and the duration thereof tends to be less than 3 months after birth. A great majority of children in this country consume a diet deficient in energy and of poor nutrient density to meet their micronutrient requirements. The aim of this study was to identify feeding practices of infants that could contribute to the development of malnutrition. METHOD: This was a cohort study with a prospective experimental design. Forty-four of the original 73 mother-infant pairs that were recruited, were interviewed monthly on feeding practices of the infants. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height of the infants) were measured monthly. RESULTS: Weight-for-age Z-scores dropped significantly with age from around 4 months, when weaning had started. Inadequate dietary intake, more specifically weaning practices and breastfeeding practices, were identified as the immediate cause that could contribute to the development of malnutrition in this community. Except for the positive relationship between the level of education of the father and an increase in HAZ over time, growth was not affected by socio-economic and demographic factors in this community. This is probably because of the fact that there were very small differences in socio-economic and demographic factors. CONCLUSION: Weaning and breastfeeding practices should be addressed in all nutrition education programmes.