International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

119-130

Authors: Mbeugué Thiam, Adama Diouf, Ousseynou Baba Coly, Saliou Diombo Kébé, Ousmane Diongue, Abdou Badiane, Mane Hélène Faye, Papa Mamadou Dit Doudou Sylla, Nicole Idohou-Dossou, Jean Michel Medoc

Background: Despite micronutrient supplementation and food fortification strategies carried out for decades, micronutrient deficiencies remain prevalent among children under 5 years old in rural area in Senegal. The OR4FOOD project was implemented as a preventive and long-term approach to reduce malnutrition through biofortification. Objective: We aimed to assess the baseline dietary intakes and nutritional status of the mother-child (6-23 months old) pairin a rural community in Senegal. Methods:Dietary intakes were assessed using dietary recall questionnaires and weight food records. All foods and beverages consumed from waking to bedtime were quantified, and nutrient intakes were calculated. The nutritional status was measured by anthropometry. Results: Results showed that77.2% of children had low dietary diversity score. Only 18% of them received an appropriate complementary feeding according to the minimum acceptable diet. Cereals and legumes were among the most consumed food groups, whereas orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and animal food products were rarely consumed. Median dietary intakes of iron, zinc, and vitamin A were lower than the recommended dietary allowances. Acute malnutrition and stunting affected 14.6% and 16.9% of children, respectively. Overall, 20.8% of mothers were underweighted, and overweight/obesity affected 23.1% of them.Conclusion: Malnutrition remains prevalent in rural areas of Senegal and affects both mothers and children. Furthermore, their nutrient requirements were not covered by the diet. Millet and cowpea being widely consumed, optimizing their iron and zinc content through biofortification and the introduction of OFSP might improve micronutrient intakes and would be promising strategies to prevent child malnutrition

142-151

Authors: Mahmut Kılıç, Tuğba Uçak Ozan

This study aims to reveal the relationship between the academic success of the students and the duration of breastfeeding, parental attitude, and other variables. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 9th-grade high school students in 2019. A total of 501 students and their families participated in the research. Academic success in order of importance in multivariable linear regression analysis, the increase in the education level of the father, the preparation for the exam, the increase in the protective and democratic parental attitude, the shortening of the first walking age, and the increase in the maternal age increase the high school exam score. Breastfeeding duration and authoritarian parental attitudes were not found to be statistically significant. The protective and democratic attitude of the parents, the high level of father education, and early walking positively affect academic success, while the breastfeeding duration is insignificant.

161-170

Authors: Abebe Ferede, Tefera Belachew, Muluemebet Abera

Background: To improve the iodine status and growth of children was not documented in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the effects of nutrition behavior communication change (BCC) on improving iodine status and growth of children 6 to 59 months. Methods: A community cluster randomized trial with a single treatment arm was conducted from February 2018 to April 2020. “Kebeles” [lower administrative units] were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control cluster. Mothers and their paired children were randomly selected from kebeles. Anthropometry data and urine samples were collected at baseline and end-line surveys. Percentile rank and Independent t-test were used to determine the difference between arms. Finally, Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) is used to isolate independent predictors. Results: At baseline, 97.83 % (n = 812) mothers/ caregivers and paired children were enrolled for the trial study, but at the end-line, 88.05% (n =715) of children completed the intervention. Iodine deficiency prevalence was higher (11.82%, n = 96) at baseline and reduced to 6.15 % (n =44) at the end-line. The growth defect among children was 41 %( n = 332) at the baseline and declined to 28.67 %( n=205) at the end-line, while among interventions reduced by more than two times (39% to 12.81%). At the baseline, the median UIC among the intervention group was 106.0µg/L and increased to 207.190µg/L. The prevalence of iodine deficiency among intervention was 14.29% (n = 58) at the baseline and lowered to 3.45% (n=14) at the end-line, but a slight increment observed among control from 9.36% to 9.71% at end-line. The end-line median UIC was very high (210.56µg/L ± 150 compared to the baseline median UIC (107µg/L ± 8.66). Most (43.6%) of the intervention group found in the 4th and 5th percentile ranks factions of UIC by Height (Ht) mean differences. Being an intervention group increased Ht by 10.85cm (β =10.85, Std. E = 0.33). Likewise, for 1µg/l UIC change a 1cm (β = 1.0, p = <0.05) Ht change predicted at the end-line. Conclusions: Findings from this trial enhance nutrition behavior communication to improve the iodine status and growth of young children in the community. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the level of iodine deficiency disorders in the community

178-186

Authors: Magdalene E. Odunvbun, Anthony O. Atimati, Gold I. Osueni

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Africa. Patients with SCA present with life-long complications in addition to growth failure. With comprehensive care, patients with SCA have improved survival and well-being, with some studies reporting overnutrition. This study aims to assess nutritional status and sociodemographic determinants in children with SCA. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among children aged 1-16years attending the paediatric SCA clinics and their sex and age-matched controls. Anthropometric measurements were carried out to determine their nutritional status, and the data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software. The sociodemographic and relevant clinical information was obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The majority (86%) of the children with SCA had normal height and weight, but the mean weight, weight for age z-score (WAZ), body mass index z-score (BMIZ) and height for age z-score (HAZ) were significantly lower than the HbAA controls. The mean WAZ was significantly higher in children from high socioeconomic class (SEC) and those whose mothers had tertiary education than those from lower educational statuses. Similarly, the mean HAZ was significantly higher in children from high SEC, tertiary maternal education and younger children. Conclusion: Most children with SCA have normal nutritional status despite significantly lower nutritional indicators compared to children with HbAA genotype. Higher educational status of mothers and SEC were associated with a significantly higher nutritional status among the subjects