Work

Inadequate dietary intake is not the cause of stunting amongst young children living in an informal settlement in Gauteng and rural Limpopo Province in South Africa: the NutriGro study

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To measure dietary intakes of young children aged 12-24 months and to determine the impact of poor diets on stunting. DESIGN: A quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was adapted, tested and standardised. Trained enumerators conducted in-depth interviews with the mothers/caregivers of the children. Forty stunted children in urban informal settlements and 30 stunted children in rural areas were selected and pair-matched with controls. The data were captured on the Food Finder Program of the Medical Research Council. RESULTS: In both urban and rural areas, the diet of stunted and non-stunted groups did differ significantly and all diets were of poor nutritional quality. CONCLUSION: Diets in both areas resembled the recommended prudent diet, i.e. low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Poor quality diets were not the primary cause of stunting.

Source: Public Health Nutrition

DOI: 10.1017/s1368980007246579

Authors: M Theron, A Amissah, IC Kleynhans, E Albertse, UE MacIntyre

Institutions: Tshwane University of Technology, Accra Technical University, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Language: English

Topic: Child Nutrition and Water Access

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger, No poverty

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Research Foundation