International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

1-8

Authors: Carolyn W Gunther, Paul Branscum, Julie Kennel, Elizabeth G Klein, Laura E Monnat, Gail Kaye

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships of dairy product and calcium intake with BMI percentile in children. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, the relationships of dairy product (cup equivalents/day) and dietary calcium (mg/day) (measured by 24 hour recall) consumption with BMI percentile [derived from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts] were assessed in 101 healthy U.S. children (ages 8-13). Results: Subject characteristics included (mean + SD): dairy product consumption (2.8 + 1.4cup equivalents/day), dietary calcium (1039.4 + 431.4 mg/day), and BMI percentile (70.1 + 29.7). Dairy product intake and dietary calcium were inversely related to BMI percentile (p= 0.005). In subjects <85th BMI percentile (n= 50 normal weight and n= 3 underweight), there was an inverse association of dairy product intake with BMI percentile (p= 0.001) and calcium intake with BMI percentile (p< 0.001). However, no association of dairy product consumption or calcium intake with BMI percentile was observed in overweight (85th percentile
BMI < 95th percentile, n= 19) or obese subjects (BMI > 95thpercentile, n= 29). Removal of underweight subjects from the analysis only minimally impacted the results. Differences in dietary intake (MyPyramid food groups, calories, macronutrients, micronutrients) among normal, overweight, and obese subgroups were examined. No significant differences were detected between groups, and removing underweight subjects did not change the findings. Conclusions: These results provide the basis for further investigation into a potential role of dairy and calcium in achieving a healthy body weight in children.

15-24

Authors: Irene T. Obago, James O. Ouma, Joyce A. Owino

Improving maternal health remains a priority in Kenya and beyond. It is essential that women get good medical care before, during and after pregnancy to reduce maternal mortality. Skilled delivery care remains low in Keny a and maternal mortality rate high regardless of numerous ongoing interventions. Antenatal care is known to promote maternal and fetal well-being. However less than 50% of women make the recommended four or more antenatal care visits, missing out on key services such as urine and blood tests, and advice on possible pregnancy complications, that determine the quality of ANC. This study examines how the number of ANC visits and the quality of those visits predict health facility use at delivery. Maternal health data from DHS of 2008/2008 in Kenya was analyzed using Stata 11.0 software. Logistic regression was used to evaluate relationships between facility delivery and predictor variables in univariate and multivariate models. Estimates were based on 95% confidence inteval. The models were examined at 95% CI and 80% power and adjusted for maternal age at last birth, education, place and type of residence, level of exposure to media, mother’s religion, wealth index and birth order. The quality of ANC was an index developed based on the number of services received during ANC visits.The quality of ANC visits progressively increased the likelyhood of health facility delivery. Supply and demand should be intervention targets to ensure that women know and understand the services to demand. Health facilities should also be sufficiently prepared and ready with the services

29-33

Authors: Gervais Melaine M’boh, Lydie Boyvin, Sylvain Beourou, Allico Joseph Djaman

Background:Food intake contains various nutrients which the loss or destruction are exogenous factors of oxidative damages in our body, aggravated by infectious diseases. Blood ratio Cu/Zn is an indicator about the pool of defenses anti oxidizing to measure damage oxidative. The present study aimed to investigate the blood ratio Cu/Zn an indicator of pool of oxidative stress and eating risk factors in children school age, living in malaria endemic area. Methods:A total of 113 participants, aged 5-14 years with a mean age about 9.5 ±2 were submitted to the study. Malaria diagnosis was based on clinical grounds as the feverish condition (axillary temperature
37°C) and confirmed by laboratory test. A survey was conducted to screen children eating habits, and conjointly blood ratio Cu/Zn analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results:We have noted a high value of the Cu/Zn ratio in malarial children, as compared to controls (p < 0.001). This ratio in both groups was highest compared to the normal values (< 1), and showed an acute value in course of parasitemia. Elsewhere, it was identified eating risk factors in all children. Conclusion:Children of school age in high endemic zone of malaria in Côte d’Ivoire are exposed to the damage of stress oxidative. Thus, eating habits and their interaction with the parasite growth should be analyzed, to correct the states of stress by monitoring down the ratio copper/zinc

39-49

Authors: T. M. Fabunmi, O. O. Onabanjo, E. B. Oguntona, O. O. Keshinro, J. A. Onabanjo, O. O. Obanla, O. O. Oyawoye

Malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa contributes to high rates of childhood morbidity and mortality which make it a public health concern in Africa. This study assessed the nutrient intakes and nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children in a rural community of Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 500 households with a mother and child pair were sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Information on household socio-economic status, hygiene practices, breastfeeding practices and clinical observation for signs of malnutrition were collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires by trained interviewers. Weight for age (WAZ), weight for height (WHZ), and height for age (HAZ) for underweight, wasting and stunting, respectively were calculated and assessed by Epi Info software using the NCHS/WHO international reference values. BMI (weight/height2) of mothers were also constructed from the measurements of mothers’ weights and heights. The waist/hip ratio of mothers was also determined. An interactive 24 h recall repeated for three days was used to obtain data on food and nutrient intakes of the women. Information on foods consumed was converted into quantitative data of nutrients using Food Composition Table. The result showed a high proportion (81%) of mothers ate three times daily while 14% ate twice and 5% ate more than thrice daily. The mean daily intakes of calcium, vitamins A, B6, B12, niacin, and folate were found to be inadequate compared with the Recommended Intakes. The WHR of the mothers indicated that majority had low risk. Most of the mothers (69.2%) were normal, underweight 9.6%, overweight 15.8% and obese 5.4%. About 37% of the children were stunted, 18% were underweight and 14.3% were wasted. BMI correlated negatively with age (r = -0.41; p <0.05), and positively with education (r = 0.22; p<0.05) and income (r = 0.45; p <0.05). Clinical observation revealed PEM prevalence in 12% children while eyes pallor and palm pallor were present in 15% and 20% respectively. The nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children is poor with respect to the overall food consumption and micronutrient intake. Consequently, nutrition programmes in this area should include effective measures to promote nutritional status of mothers and children.

63-69

Authors: Sawsan Mohammed Ali Hadi, Alaa Shaalan Hussien, Saad Alddin Hussien Ali, Azhar Abdul Jabber, Ahmed Rejeb, Ali Hammed

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health nutritionproblem in the developing world. There have been no studies on this topic in Iraq. This study was designed to evaluate the serum retinol levels of preschool children, pregnant and lactating women. Objectives: The present study is an attempt to estimate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among preschool children, pregnant and lactating women attending primary health care centers in Baghdad, in addition to figure out the relation between vitamin A deficiency with some demographical, clinical, variables. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted during the period from October to December 2009. The sample was comprised of 490 subjects, Lactating women pregnant women and under 6 year's old children attending ten primary health care centers in Baghdad. The data were collected through direct interview; blood samples were taken and analyze for serum retinol (SR) by HPLC analysis and hemoglobin (Hb) level, anthropometric measurement were obtained for the study sample. Results:The study showed that the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in preschool aged children (below 6 years) was (38.3 %); and that for lactating women and pregnant women were (7.1 %) and (25 %) respectively. Forty percent of pregnant women, (25.8 %) of lactating women and a total of (58.6 %) preschool children were anemic, A correlation coefficient between SR and Hb concentrations was significant (N=490, r=0.533, P<0.0001). Conclusion:Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem, this study shows that subjects in the 3 groups (preschool children, pregnant and lactating women) are at risk of VAD and anemia; nearly half of them had the co-occurrence of VAD and anemia. A close association between vitamin A deficiency and anemia with a correlation coefficient between SR and Hb concentrations was significant