An assessment of the nutritional status of children under five years in Maputaland, Kwa-Zulu-Natal
Loading...
Date
2001
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Malnutrition continues to affect the large number of people, particularly in developing countries* Few studies have reported on nutritional status of children in southern Africa. A comprehensive nutritional survey was conducted on African children aged 0-5 years (n = 172) in two rural areas of Mapataland, namely, Mangnza and Ngwavuma. Stunting, underweight, acute under nutrition and lower upper arm measurement were prevalent is children of Mapataland.
The average diet contained an adequate amount of portion from the meat and cereals group but had inadequate content milk and fruit/vegetable group as in accordance with expectations of the Department of Health and welfare. The percentage energy obtain from fat in the diet was very low (19%) and from carbohydrates was very high (68%). The amount of plant protein in the diet exceeded that of animal protein. Boys had lower means height and weight than girls with 36% falling below the NCHS 5th percentiles weight-for-age. Wasting was only present in 5% and 2 % among girls.
Current diet intake was assessed with a diet history and a diet food frequency questionnaire. A high to moderate prevalence of underweight rural areas (19%), a low prevalence of stunting in rural areas (17%) and a high prevalence of wasting in rural area (7%) were identified. Maize-meal porridge and milk were the most commonly used food items, as compared with, vegetables, margarine and meat. Most of the children had insufficient (<67% RDA) intake of iron, Zinc, Vitamin C, Niacin and Vitamin B6.
Description
Submitted in the Faculty of.Arts in partial fnlfillmeut of the requirements for the degree of Master of.Arts in Community Work in the Department of Social Work at the
University of Zulu1and, 2001.
Keywords
Malnutrition., Malnutrition--Developing countries., Malnutrition-rural areas., nutrition-- children