Abstract
Caring for the elderly is a requirement for development. Ghana’s unpreparedness to meet the nutritional need of the steadily growing elderly population made this study delve into the food habits of the elderly. This study focuses on the nutrition knowledge and food habits of the elderly in the Kwahu South District of Ghana using the mixed methods approach. The study brings theoretical and empirical surveys related to the topic from global perspectives, focusing on Ghana. Applying both questionnaire and focus group discussion, the researcher solicited cross-sectional data from a field setting, analysed within the causal - exploratory to achieve the study’s objectives. Data collected were analysed using the statistical package of SPSS 20 and CDC EZ 3.10C. Findings of this study established that the elderly's nutrition knowledge could not influence their food habits much because other factors like cost, motivation and availability, and health condition/status affect the foods they consume and how they are eaten.
Publisher
African - British Journals
Subject
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Reference37 articles.
1. 1. World Health Organization (2007) “Definition of an older or elderly person”. A proposed working definition of an older person in Africa for the Minimum Data Set Project. Geneva: WHO.
2. 2. Gianna R (2012) Ten Factors That Affect an Older Adult's Nutrition. Live strong 1: 39.
3. 3. Dovie DA (2019) The Status of Older Adult Care in Contemporary Ghana: A Profile of Some Emerging Issues. Front. Social. 4: 25.
4. 4. Kpessa-Whyte M (2018) Aging and demographic transition in Ghana: state of the elderly and emerging issues. Gerontologist 58: 403-408.
5. 5. Apt NA (1990) The role of the Family in the care of the Elderly in developing countries, in Kane RL, Evans G, McFadden D (eds.) Improving the Health of the Older People: A World View. Oxford Universities Press, pp. 362-390.