Nutritional Status and Dietary Patterns of Children Aged Ten Years and Below In the Buea Municipality, South West Region Cameroon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nutrition plays a critical role in the growth and health of children and this has an impact on society, economic growth and development. Infant and young children’s feeding practices directly influence their nutritional status and survival. Good nutrition as an essential factor in children’s wellbeing is therefore closely linked to their dietary patterns. However, for decades, childhood malnutrition has remained a global health problem and is characterized by the ‘double burden’ of undernutrition and overnutrition. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and nutritional status among children aged ten years and below in the Buea Health District. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out within the Buea Health District from February to May 2023 to assess the dietary patterns and nutritional status of children aged 10 years and below. Data was collected using a semi-structured self - self-administered questionnaire on the parents/caregivers with children aged 10 years and below. Dietary patterns were assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall and nutritional status was assessed using body-mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, weight and height to age ratio according to the WHO standard. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 for Windows RESULTS: Overall malnutrition status showed that the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight and obesity were 137(38.7%), 34(9.6%), 50(23.6%), 49(35.4%) and 143(66.5%) respectively. For dietary diversity, 79 (22.4%) had a low score, indicating a poor dietary intake. Some factors affecting the nutritional status of children include vaccine noncompliance (AOR=1.909, p=0.029), mothers’ who were housewives or privately employed had children were more likely to be stunted (AOR= 2.027, p=0.049) and (AOR=2.834, P=0.008) respectively, mother/caregivers residing in a rural area (AOR=0.348, P=0.013). Mothers/caregivers less than 30 years old had children who were likely to be wasted (AOR=5.14, p=0.037). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of malnutrition among children under ten years in the BHD is high. About a quarter of children have a poor dietary intake. Factors such as vaccine noncompliance and some socioeconomic factors of mothers are associated with the nutritional status of children in the BHD.