STUDENT RESEARCH

Summary: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between household foods and dietary intake of children (3-6 years) in the Asesewa sub-district, Upper Manya Krobo district in Ghana. A cross sectional survey was used to obtain data from 165 caregiver-child pairs from seven (7) randomly selected communities using structured questionnaires. Information gathered included background characteristics and nutritional knowledge of caregivers; dietary data for children using a single 24-hour recall method and a seven (7) day food frequency questionnaire, household dietary data and anthropometric measurements (height and weight children and caregivers. Associations were examined using Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results indicated that households had a mean household dietary diversity of 9.88 ± 1.7 out of 12 food groups and about 65.5% of the households had a high dietary diversity i.e. consumed ten (10) or more food groups in the past seven (7) days. Among the children, 58.2% of them were found to have a high dietary diversity i.e. consumed 7 or more food groups in the past seven (7) days.

The prevalence of stunting (23.6%), underweight (4.2%) and overweight (3%) reported in the study were lower than estimates from national level and other studies. Households with high dietary diversity had an almost six-fold likelihood of having children with high dietary diversity compared to households with low dietary diversity (OR: 5.7; CI: 2.78 - 11.84). Additionally, there was a tendency (p=0.05) for caregivers with high nutritional knowledge to be more likely to have children with high dietary diversity (OR: 1.8; CI: 0.98, 3.44). However, household dietary diversity was not associated with child’s height-for-age Z-score (p=0. 174) among the participants. Ensuring the adequacy and quality of diet at the household level may reduce the chances of many of them entering into school age with some nutritional deficits.

Isabella Tandoh | Masters, University of Ghana, Legon