Nutritional status as a determinant of cognitive development among preschool children in South-Western Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 1568-1578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oyepeju Mary Onifade ◽  
Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo ◽  
Joshua Odunayo Akinyemi ◽  
Titus Ayodeji Oyedele ◽  
Ademola Richard Akinlade

Purpose – Improving the health of children under the age of five is one of the main objectives of primary healthcare services in most developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to identify the nutritional status of children under the age of five and its impact on cognitive function. Design/methodology/approach – The cross-sectional study was carried out in a semi-urban community in south-western Nigeria. The sample consisted of 220 school children under the age of five. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height and mid arm circumference were carried out to determine the nutritional status of the children. Cognitive function of the children was assessed using a developmental checklist developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and their performance was graded as good, fair and poor. Findings – The overall prevalence of malnutrition in this study was low with stunting, underweight and wasting recording 8.2, 6.8 and 1.8 percent, respectively thereby making stunting the most common malnutrition indicator in this study. A large proportion of the children (88.6 percent) had good cognitive performance while 11.4 and 5.5 percent had fair and poor cognitive performance, respectively. Among the various malnutrition indicators measured in this study, stunting was found to have a statistically significant association with cognitive development (p=0.005).Stunted children have multiple functional disadvantages that persist throughout childhood and poor nutrition almost certainly plays a role. This paper calls for a need for the Nigerian Government to intervene by ensuring that policies are implemented that will ensure that health and nutritional needs of preschool children are guaranteed right from conception. Originality/value – In view of the importance of nutrition for cognition in children, this research has shown that the cognitive function of preschool children can be affected by stunting and it has contributed to global data on nutrition and cognition particularly in South-Western Nigeria.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Subal Das ◽  
Kaushik Bose

A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of undernutrition using body mass index (BMI) among 2–6-year Santal preschool children of Purulia District, West Bengal, India. A total of 251 (116 boys and 135 girls) children from 12 villages were measured. Commonly used indicators, that is, weight, height, and BMI, were used to evaluate the nutritional status. More boys (59.5%) than girls (53.3%), based on BMI, were undernourished. Significant age differences in weight (F=44.29∗∗∗; df=3), height (F=58.48∗∗∗; df=3), and BMI (F=3.52∗∗∗; df=3) among boys were observed. Similarly, significant differences between ages in mean weight (F=56.27∗∗∗; df=3), height (F=64.76∗∗∗; df=3), and BMI (F=2.62∗∗∗; df=3) were observed among the girls. The present study revealed that the nutritional status of the preschool children of Santal tribal community of these villages was poor with very high rate of thinness in boys and girls (59.5% and 53.3%, resp.).


Author(s):  
Q. H. Khan ◽  
Garima Arora ◽  
Susheel Kumar Nalli

Background: Nutritional status is the best indicator of the child health. Malnutrition has both short and long term adverse ramifications. As per NFHS III 47% children are stunted in the state of Chhattisgarh. However still many communities in the tribal dominated and naxal affected state may remain affected, hence the study was planned to identify the nutritional status of children and find out its determinant.Methods: Present cross-sectional study was conducted among 12-59 months children in the urban slum of Jagdalpur city, Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Predesigned and pretested questionnaire was administered to the caregiver of the child, information on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained and anthropometric measurements were taken. Statistical Analysis: all frequencies were derived for completeness of data. WHO Anthro Software version 3.1.0 was used to classify the malnutrition status. Chi-square test was applied to find association between dependent variables.Results: Out of 225 children 53.3% were boys and 46.7% were girls. The overall prevalence of underweight stunting and wasting was 28.4%, 41.3%, and 19.1% respectively.Conclusions: Prevalence of underweight has reduced in the district over a period of years. However high level of stunting, a sign of chronic hunger points towards the pivotal role of socio-demographic and behavioral practices prevalent in the district. Interaction with health system in the form of ANC, institutional delivery and safeguarding effective 100% immunization coverage has shown preventive effect.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Rendy Manuhutu ◽  
Dyah Umiyarni Purnamasari ◽  
Endo Dardjito

School age is the important period of human life and the quality have to be prepared well. The school age children is susceptible to malnutrition. Malnutrition among school age children will implicatethe children�s development and further potential development in that age. Food consumption levels and worm infection status are the two most affected factors to nutritional status of children school. The purpose of this research is to know the effect of energy, protein, fat and worm inflectional status to the nutritional status of SDN 01 Limpakuwus�s student in Sumbang, Banyumas. This research was cross sectional study approach,used purposive sampling with inclusion and exclusion criteria in 44 respondents. Analysis conducted by univariate, bivariate (Spearman rank) and multivariate (multiple logistic regression).Multivariate analysis showed the variables that influenced nutritional status is the level of fat consumption (p=0.022), and the variable did not affect the nutritional status are the level of energy consumption (p=0.999), protein consumption level (p=0.580), and worm infection status (p = 0.661). The suggestion is to get more food that can fulfil the energy, protein, fat needs and make the canteen in the school becomes a healthy canteen that serves healthy and nutritious meal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Asmita Shrestha ◽  
Chet Kant Bhusal ◽  
Binjwala Shrestha ◽  
Kiran Dev Bhattarai

Background. Malnutrition is a major public health problem and most enveloping cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents throughout the world. This study was aimed at assessing the nutritional status and associated factors among 6-10-year-old children in selected earthquake-affected areas of Gorkha district, Nepal. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study among 420 mothers having children of age groups 6-10 years (with anthropometric measurement among children) was conducted using a mixed method in selected earthquake-affected areas of Gorkha district, Nepal, from October 2015 to April 2016. Gorkha was selected purposively from 14 earthquake-affected districts. Two village development committees were selected randomly among 6 having severe impact. Randomly, 5 wards were selected from each of the 2 village development committees. As the sample was 420, 42 children were selected randomly from every ward. Result. Among the 420 children, 31.9% were underweight, 51.9% were stunted, and 2.9% were wasted after the earthquake. Children who were more prone to being underweight were the following: male children (RR=1.34 95% CI: 1.01-1.78) and children from illiterate mothers (RR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.85-3.36), illiterate fathers (RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.32-2.27), and homemaker mothers (RR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.20-0.38); children whose families were using nonimproved sources of water (RR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.07-6.60); and households having food insecurity (RR=12.97, 95% CI: 3.29-51.18). Similarly, children of illiterate fathers (RR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.41-1.97), children of illiterate mothers (RR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.91-2.83), children of homemaker mothers (RR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.70), children whose family were using treated water (RR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.67), and children from food insecure households (RR=10.52, CI: 4.05-27.33) were found to be stunted. After adjustment, children from households consuming nonimproved water were 6 times more likely (OR=6.75; 95% CI: 1.59-28.62) to be wasted. Conclusion. Illiterate mothers, illiterate fathers, mothers engaged in occupation other than household work, and food insecure households were found to be independent predictors of underweight and stunting. Nonimproved source of drinking water was found to be independent predictors of wasting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1004-1012
Author(s):  
Ioannis Moisoglou ◽  
Petros Galanis ◽  
Evangelia Meimeti ◽  
Angeliki Dreliozi ◽  
Petros Kolovos ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of nurse staffing, nurse education and work experience on patients’ length of stay (LOS) in the Greek public hospitals. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study, with retrospective administrative data, was implemented. From all seven Regional Health Authorities of Greece, 25 general surgical units in 17 public hospitals participated in the study. Findings All over the hospitals were studied, 32,287 patients ⩾17 years old and 203 nursing staff, who were working in the study units, were included in the analysis. According to the multivariate linear regression model, increased years of experience as a nurse (b= −0.04, 95% CI= −0.06 to −0.02, p=0.001) and increased percentage of registered nurse to the total nursing staff (b= −1.18, CI= −1.88 to −0.47, p=0.03) were associated with decreased patient LOS. Originality/value This was the first extended study in Greece, which explored the relationship between nurse staffing, nurse education, work experience and the LOS. The role that nurse staffing play together with its characteristics in the provision toward the quality healthcare services has already been recognized worldwide. The findings revealed the great shortage of nursing staff and the significant correlation between the work experience and educational level to patients’ LOS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 3016-3020
Author(s):  
Dona Muji Fitriana ◽  
Ni Ketut Alit Armini ◽  
Eka Mishbahatul

Nutritional status is an important matter that needs to be paid attention during preschool. Malnutrition during this period will cause irreversible damage which cannot be recovered as an adult. The role of mothers in fulfilling the nutritional status of preschoolers is essential. Maternal perceptions influence the intentions and behavior of mothers in the nutritional needs of preschool children. This study aims to determine the effect of maternal perceptions on the development of children’s nutritional status at preschool age. This research was conducted at Slendro 1 Kindergarten, Slendro 2 Kindergarten, and Slendro Village PAUD Post, Gesi District, Sragen Regency (Central Java, Indonesia). The research used descriptive correlational design with cross-sectional approach. A total of 61 female student guardians who have preschool age children were used as samples. This study utilized two variables, namely maternal perception (support and barrier) as the independent variable and the nutritional status of preschool children as the dependent variable. The data were collected using a questionnaire and anthropometric measurements (BW/BH), then the data were analyzed using the Sperman Rho test (α ≤ 0.05). The results show that 59% of mothers had high perceptions and 41% of mothers had low perceptions of the nutritional status of preschool children. Statistical test results show that there is a significant relationship (ρ = 0.029) with a correlation coefficient (r = 0.280) between maternal perceptions and the nutritional status of children at preschool age. Perception has a huge influence on a mother’s intention in improving the nutritional status of a child. A positive maternal perception of the fulfillment of a child’s nutritional needs at preschool age can improve a child’s nutritional status.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Loriana L. Teixeira ◽  
Estelamar MB Teixeira ◽  
Helen Mara Gomes ◽  
Lucas Arantes-Pereira

<p><em>Feeding is directly related to nutritional status and alterations as obesity and malnutrition, affecting human body and increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of children and adolescents in a public school located in Uberaba MG Brazil by comparing macro and micronutrients on the school menu with PNAE (Brazilian government program) recommendations. A descriptive cross-sectional study including 547 individuals was carried out. Nutritional assessment was done based on anthropometric Z-score analysis. Only the food ingestion made at the school was considered, in order to verify if the meals offered by the school meet the percentage of nutrients recommended by PNAE. With regard to the nutritional status, there was a small proportion of students (0.18%) with low weight (-3 ? Z &lt; -2). There was 15% prevalence of overweight (overweight, obesity, and severe obesity) among students. Menus composition revealed that macronutrients, fiber, and energy intake was lower than that recommended by PNAE for all age groups studied. The prevalence of a considerable number of overweight students is a warning for interventions to prevent obesity. A small percentage of students classified as low weight represents a nutritional transition trend in recent years.</em></p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 2593
Author(s):  
Nayantara R. Gandra ◽  
Kalavathy Jasmine Masillamoni

Background: Even though there are many programs run by Government to tackle the problem of malnutrition in India, problem of malnutrition is still there. Malnutrition leads to infections and even can lead to death of child in severe cases. The mortality rate is very high compared to other countries. The objective of the study to study validity of age independent various nutritional status indices in comparison to gold standard of weight for ageMethods: Present study was institution based cross sectional study carried out at SDA high school, from January 2019 to July 2019 among 58 school children aged 34-92 months of age. Anthropometric measurements like weight, height, head circumference, chest circumference, mid arm circumference were recorded as per the standard guidelines. Weight for height, weight of age, Kanawati Index, Jeliffe’s ratio, Rao index, and Dugdales index was calculated. Gold standard used was weight for age. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for these indices.Results: Majority of the children belonged to 48-60 months and 61-72 months i.e. 29.3% each. Males were more than females. Prevalence of malnutrition was 60.3%, 48.3%, 51.7%, 91.4%, and 56.8% based on weight for age, Kanawati index, Rao index, Jeliffe’s ratio and Dugdale’s index respectively. Dugdale’s index was found to have high sensitivity (85.7%) and specificity (86.9%) compared to all other indices.Conclusions: Among age independent indices of nutritional status available, Dugdales index can be used as it has been found that it has remarkably higher sensitivity and specificity compared to other age independent indices of nutritional status.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document