scholarly journals Relationship between food insecurity and nutritional status of Brazilian children under the age of five

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 984-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Pozza dos Santos ◽  
Denise Petrucci Gigante

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and nutritional status of Brazilian children. METHODS: The National Demographic and Health Survey 2006 database is available on the worldwide web. Thus, the analyzed variables were obtained in this study, including nutritional indices, food insecurity and other socioeconomic and demographic variables. The height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height indices were evaluated as the Z-score of the World Health Organization reference curves. Food insecurity was defined by using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Averages of three indices according to the presence of food insecurity were analyzed, including other variables. Linear regression evaluated the effect of food insecurity on the Z-score of the three nutritional indices. RESULTS: The sample included 4,817 children, out of whom 7% had deficit in height, 7% were overweight and 47% had food insecurity. It was found that the average of height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height were -0.31, 0.12 and 0.40, respectively, being lower among children with food insecurity. CONCLUSION: The regression analysis showed that children living with some level of food insecurity have worse rates of height-for-age, even controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Maria Fransiska Pudjohartono ◽  
Hanggoro Tri Rinonce ◽  
Josephine Debora ◽  
Pritania Astari ◽  
Monica Gisela Winata ◽  
...  

A recent extraordinary event of malnutrition in childrenin Asmat, Papua, Indonesia has drawn enormous attention. To help in post-emergency rehabilitation, Gadjah Mada University sent a Kuliah Kerja Nyata – Peduli Bencana (KKN-PB) team to Agats, Asmat in March 17 – April 20, 2018. As part of situation analysis, the team surveyed the nutritional status of under five-years-old children in Agats, Asmat. The subjects were under five-year-old children coming to posyandus in fiveareasin Agats in March-April 2018. The data of sex, age, weight, and height were obtained, then the nutritional status in the form of Z-scores for weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ) was calculated using WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 software. Nutritional status was determined based on criteria from World Health Organization (WHO). Among the 372 children, 35 (9.4%) children were underweight and 7 (1.9%) were severely underweight. Twenty one (5.7%) children were stunted and 12 (3.2%) were severely stunted. As many as 23 (6.2%) children were found to be wasted and 6 (1.6%) were severely wasted. The percentages of children with malnutrition found in this survey were lower than the percentages for Indonesia and Papua overall, but percentages in two posyandus were higher than the national and Papua percentages. The relatively low total percentages may be accounted for by concentration of malnutrition cases in districts other than Agats and lack of coverage of children absent from posyandu. Prevalence of malnutrition varied in different age groups possibly due to inadequacy of complementary foods, changes in incidence of infections, and addition of siblings. Further surveys are needed using home visitsthat will also enable to analyze of socioeconomic factors at the same time as nutritional status determinants in Agats and other districts in Asmat.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deise Cristina Oliva CARAMICO-FAVERO ◽  
Zelita Caldeira Ferreira GUEDES ◽  
Mauro Batista de MORAIS

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy may be associated with comorbidities such as undernutrition, impaired growth and gastrointestinal symptoms. Children with cerebral palsy exhibit eating problems due to the effect on the anatomical and functional structures involved in the eating function resulting in malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between food intake, nutritional status and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included 40 children with cerebral palsy (35 with spastic tetraparetic form and 5 with non-spastic choreoathetoid form of cerebral palsy, all requiring wheelchairs or bedridden) aged from 4 to 10 years. The dietary assessment with the parents was performed using the usual household food intake inquiry. Anthropometric data were collected. Gastrointestinal symptoms associated with deglutition disorders, gastroesophageal reflux and chronic constipation were also recorded. RESULTS: The median of height-for-age Z-score (-4.05) was lower (P<0.05) than the median of weight-for-age (-3.29) and weight-for-height (-0.94). There was no statistical difference between weight-for-age and weight-for-height Z-scores. Three patients with cerebral palsy (7.5%) exhibited mild anemia, with normal ferritin levels in two. Symptoms of dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, and constipation were found in 82.5% (n=33), 40.0% (n=16), and 60.0% (n=24) of the sample, respectively. The patients with symptoms of dysphagia exhibited lower daily energy (1280.2±454.8 Kcal vs 1890.3±847.1 Kcal, P=0.009), carbohydrate (median: 170.9 g vs 234.5 g, P=0.023) and fluid intake (483.1±294.9 mL vs 992.9±292.2 mL, P=0.001). The patients with symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux exhibited greater daily fluid intake (720.0±362.9 mL) than the patients without symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (483.7±320.0 mL, P=0.042) and a greater height-for-age deficit (Z-score: -4.9±1.7 vs 3.7±1.5, P=0.033). The patients with symptoms of constipation exhibited lower daily dietary fiber (9.2±4.3 g vs 12.3±4.3 g, P=0.031) and fluid (456.5±283.1 mL vs 741.1±379.2 mL, P=0.013) intake. CONCLUSION: Children with cerebral palsy exhibited wide variability in food intake which may partially account for their severe impaired growth and malnutrition. Symptoms of dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, and constipation are associated with different food intake patterns. Therefore, nutritional intervention should be tailored considering the gastrointestinal symptoms and nutritional status.


Author(s):  
Qianling Tian ◽  
Xiao Gao ◽  
Tingting Sha ◽  
Qiong He ◽  
Gang Cheng ◽  
...  

Background: At present, whether to use the World Health Organization’s (WHO) growth standards or native growth standards to assess the nutritional status in a given population is unclear. This study aimed to compare the differences between the WHO’s growth standards and China’s growth standards in assessing the nutritional status of children aged 0~36 months. Methods: We used z-scores to evaluate the nutritional status of children. The weight-for-age z-scores (WAZs), length/height-for-age z-scores (LAZ/HAZs), and weight-for-length/height z-scores (WLZ/WHZs) were calculated using the WHO’s growth standards and China’s growth standards. MeNemar’s test was used to compare the nutritional status of children. Results: The results in this study showed that there were differences between the WHO’s standards and China’s standards in assessing children’s nutritional status except for stunting and obesity. The prevalence of underweight assessed using China’s standards was higher than when using the WHO’s standards (except when 3 and 36 months old). The prevalence of wasting was significantly higher when assessed using China’s standards than when using the WHO’s standards from 12 to 36 months. The prevalence of overweight was higher when assessed using the WHO’s standards from 3 to 8 months. Conclusions: Both the WHO’s and China’s growth standards are useful measures in assessing children’s nutritional status but with key significant differences. Therefore, caution should be taken in selecting appropriate measures in a given population.


2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.V. Mbuh ◽  
N.E. Nembu

AbstractIntestinal helminth infections and malnutrition constitute a major health burden in developing countries, with infants and children being the most vulnerable groups. The extent of the burden of intestinal helminth infections and malnutrition was investigated in a cross-sectional study involving 265 children aged between 4 and 14 years residing in Dibanda, a semi-rural area located in Buea, South West Region, Cameroon. The prevalence of intestinal helminth infections was determined microscopically after faecal samples were prepared by the formol-ether sedimentation concentration technique of stool analysis. Nutritional status was determined using age and the anthropometric parameters of weight and height. Standard deviation (SD) or Z scores of height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) were computed based on the World Health Organization 2006 growth reference curves. Anaemia was assessed by packed cell volume (PCV). The prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in the study population was 47.2% (125/265). All infections were of low intensity, withAscarisrecording the highest geometric mean egg count (GMEC) ±  SEM of 363.51 ± 60.35 (egg count range: 76–3000 eggs/gram of stool). Overall, 42.3% of children had PCV < 31%. Also, 47.2% of those with intestinal helminth infections also had PCV < 31%. The prevalence of malnutrition was 30.2% (80/265). Of 80 malnourished children, 5.3% were wasted ( < − 2SD weight-for-height Z-score), 7.2% underweight ( < − 2SD weight-for-age Z score) and 24.2% stunted ( < − 2SD height-for-age Z score). The mean values of all the anthropometric indices were lower in helminth-infected children. Findings from this study are strongly suggestive that intestinal helminth infections and malnutrition exist in children residing in Dibanda and constitute a major health problem that needs to be addressed immediately to reduce morbidity and mortality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (F) ◽  
pp. 234-240
Author(s):  
Nikmah Utami Dewi ◽  
Nurulfuadi Nurulfuadi ◽  
Ummu Aiman ◽  
Diah Ayu Hartini ◽  
Fendi Pradana ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: The increased risk of malnutrition is affected by food insecurity. Studies in adolescents still show mixed results.  AIM: This article aimed to evaluate the association between food insecurity and anthropometry measurements in studies involving adolescents.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: The databases used to obtain the literature were PubMed, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, and PubMed Central. The keywords used were food security, food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, obesity, adolescence, adolescents, teenagers, teens, and youth in studies published from 2010 to 2019. A total of 12 articles were used in this review.  RESULTS: The association between food insecurity and the incidence of malnutrition in adolescents in various regions is still diverse. Food insecurity had a negative correlation with BMI-for-age in three studies (33.3%), but one study (11.1%) showed the opposite result. Food insecurity was positively related to low height-for-age (stunting) in 50% of studies, while five other studies (55.6%) showed that food insecurity was not related to BMI-for-age or weight-for-age. Three studies (50%) showed that there was no association between food insecurity and height-for-age.  CONCLUSION: Longitudinal studies, such as Cohort studies, need to be conducted to ensure the actual relationship between food insecurity and nutritional status in various regions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiza Kumwenda ◽  
Lukonde Mwelwa Zgambo ◽  
Maryse Umugwaneza ◽  
Dorothy Nthani ◽  
Hilda Nyambe Silavwe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 24 months and beyond. Breastfeeding is beneficial for infant growth, development, and survival. Evidence on the association between breastfeeding duration and growth is not conclusive. The aim of the present study was to establish the association between breastfeeding duration and growth among infants and young children. MethodsThe study is based on data from the 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The primary outcome for the study was height-for-age Z-score (HAZ). Association between HAZ and breastfeeding duration was assessed by using regression analysis. ResultsThe overall mean ± SD for HAZ was -1.24 ± 1.46 and the median (interquartile range) breastfeeding duration was 9 (4-14 months). After controlling for potential confounders, breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with HAZ (β=-0.07, p<0.001) and WHZ (β=-0.04, p<0.001). Path analysis demonstrated that the effect of breastfeeding duration is independent of child’s birth weight and maternal perceived birth size. Other determinants of HAZ were child’s weight and sex, while WHZ was predicted by maternal age, diarrhea episode and child’s birth weight. ConclusionBreastfeeding duration is negatively associated with both HAZ and WHZ among Zambian children. However, the magnitudes of the association are quite small to be of clinical significance. Thus, breastfeeding should continue to be promoted, protected and supported from birth up to two years and beyond.


Author(s):  
Veronicah Kirogo ◽  
◽  
Wambui K.M ◽  
Nelson M.M ◽  

A comparative, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the role of irrigation on improvement of nutritional status of children aged 6 – 59 months in a semi-arid setting. Two equal samples of fifty-nine children (aged 6 – 59 months) hereafter, referred to as the Project and the Non-project groups, respectively were randomly selected from households with a nd without access to irrigation water in Kieni East Division of Nyeri District, Kenya. The study area is situated in the drier western leeward side of Mt. Kenya and is characteristic by unreliable rainfall of between 500 to 1200 mm per annum. Weight, height and age of index children were determined and the corresponding standard deviations of weight-for-age, we ight-for-height and height-for-age calculated and compared to the reference standards developed by the US National Centre for Health Statistics. Energy and nutrient intake was determined using 24-hour dietary recall method. The findings on socio-demographic characteristics showed that the Project and Non-project households were similar in terms of household size, land size, marital status of the respondent, maternal and paternal education and occupation. The calorie intake of over two-fifth (42%) of the children from the Non-project households compared to 39% from the Project households was below the Recommended Daily Allowance. The children from commercial farming Project households had significantly higher weight-for-age Z-score than those from commercial farming Non-project households. Similarly, children from high-income Project households had significantly higher height-for-age Z-score than those from high-income Non-project households. The prevalence of stunting was also significantly lower in the high-income Project households compared to high-income N on-project households. Among the male children, the prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in Non-project households than in Project households. Overall, the prevalence of stunting and underweight which are indicators of long-term nutritional deprivation were higher in Non-project households than Project households. The findings of the study led to the conclusion that irrigation contributes to increased per capita food availability resulting in higher energy intakes and subsequently enables households to safeguard young children against chronic malnutrition. Also, poverty as characterised by low household income remains a main determinant of nutritional status.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Aynal Hoque ◽  
Md Abu Sayeed ◽  
Mohammed Rizwanul Ahsan ◽  
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
Farhana Salim

Background : Malnutrition is a serious public health problem that has been linked to increase risk of morbidity and mortality. Child malnutrition causes 27% of child deaths in developing countries in 2015.Objective : To estimate the nutritional status of under five children of a selected slum in Dhaka city.Methodology : This was a descriptive cross sectional study and conducted among 100 under 5 children purposively selected at Agargaon slum in Dhaka city during January-2015 to July-2015. Anthropometric measurements were taken by using standard methods. Those were weight, height, MUAC. Information regarding age of children was taken from patient’s birth certificates or hospital records. Nutritional status was estimated by calculating Z-score, weight for age, height for age, weight for height and mid upper arm circumference. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.Results : Mean age of the study population was 32.95 months. Male was 52% and female was 48%. Regarding Anthropometric assessment according to weight for height Z-score, 39% were wasted moderately and 13% were severely wasted and height for age Z-score, showed 47% of children were stunted moderately and 14% children were severely stunted. According to weight for age Zscore, 46% of children were moderately underweight and 16% children were severely underweight. According to MUAC classification 43% of children were in border line and 16% were malnutrition.Conclusions : Overall, nutritional status of the under 5 child of slum of Agargaon were not satisfactory.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.7(2) Jan 2016: 143-145


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Nurul Hidayah ◽  
Baiq Fitria Rahmiati ◽  
Junendri Ardian ◽  
M. Thonthowi Jauhari ◽  
Qurratu Aini ◽  
...  

Disability is a special condition faced by some people. West Nusa Tenggara is at the top ten highest percentages for this special issue. This voluntary program was carried out to educate people how to maintain the diets of children in a special condition. The sharing programme was done by conducted a presentation, discussion, checking a height and weight and consultation. It was obtained that almost all parents having a kids with disability did not understand and were not aware how to prepare and choose food for their children. Approximately all children with a special issue at LombokCare community did not meet the standard height-for-age of World Health Organization (WHO), meaning that they were stunted. Therefore, a new insight and better care practices were gained by the parents in order to control and prepare the balanced diets of their special children.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 606-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Romaguera ◽  
N Samman ◽  
N Farfán ◽  
M Lobo ◽  
A Pons ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahuaca, Jujuy, using anthropometric measurements.Design and subjectsA cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in a representative sample (n = 1236) of individuals from these regions. Children aged 2–9 years, adolescents (10–17 years) and adults (≥18 years; pregnant and lactating women excluded) were considered. Height-for-age, weight-for-height and body mass index (BMI) were calculated in children and adolescents and compared with World Health Organization/National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards using Z-scores or percentiles, in order to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting/thinness and excess weight. In adults, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip (WHR) ratio were used to identify obesity and central adiposity.ResultsStunting (height-for-age Z-score <–2 standard deviations) and obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) were found to be major nutritional problems in children and adolescents. Stunting was prevalent in 10.7% of children and 12.4% of adolescents; 8.2% of children and 3.5% of adolescents were obese. Adults were short (mean: 155.8 cm) and values of overweight (32.3%), obesity (18.3%) and central adiposity (mean WC: 86.5 cm) were high. Older adults and those with higher economic development showed higher prevalence of obesity and central adiposity.ConclusionsThe present population may be at the early stages of nutritional transition as symptoms of undernutrition and overnutrition coexist at the population level. These results suggest that rates of growth retardation may be decreasing owing to improved nutritional conditions; however, this could be accompanied by a sharp increase in the prevalence of other diet-related chronic diseases.


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