Nutritional Status Assessment of Children (0-5 Years) of Female Head Porters (Kayayei) in Agbogbloshie Market Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Nutritional status is the balance between the intake of nutrients and the expenditure of these in the processes of growth, reproduction, and health maintenance. Under nutrition, especially in children, can lead to substantial problems in mental and physical development. Undernourished children can also suffer several diseases from nutrient deficiencies. Although the overall pattern of growth is genetically determined, it is significantly affected by nutrition. Socioeconomic status, nutritional knowledge and feeding practices among others are some of the reasons why children maybe undernourished. Female head porters (kayayei) who care for their children, due to the low wages they earn may not be able to afford healthy meals and provide the necessary care for these children. Aim: This study assessed the nutritional status of children of kayayei at Agbogbloshie market in Accra. Methods: Purposive sampling method was used to recruit subjects at Agbogbloshie market. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, feeding habits, dietary history and anthropometric measures. Dietary intake of the children was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical analyses were done to find total protein, albumin and amylase levels in saliva samples taken from the children. Results: Seventy-three female head porters (kayayei), each with her child, participated in the study. All the kayayei were from northern Ghana. Majority of the children (32.9%) were between the ages of 25 and 36 months and 50.7% of them were girls. Most (58.9%) of the kayayei described a balanced diet correctly and 95.9% breastfed their children. However only 9.6% practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Most (63%) of the mothers fed their children three times daily though the majority (89%) of the children were not fed with home cooked meals. More than half of the children (53.4%) had fish once a day and a grain or cereal daily in the form of tuo zafi (53.4%) though less than half (46.6%) had white bread or millet porridge (46.6%). Majority of the children, 78.1% and 67.1%, had their weight-forheight (WFH) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) measures, respectively, being normal. The average salivary pH for the children was 7.46 ± 0.867. The average albumin concentration for the children was 2.920 ± 1.353 g/L. The average total protein concentration for the children was 6.386 ± 6.2676 g/L. The average salivary amylase concentration for the children was 99.114 ± 177.816 U/L. Conclusion: There was a relationship between the nutritional knowledge of the kayeyei, their feeding practices and the nutritional status of their children. Majority of the children were within normal WHO growth standards of WFH and MUAC measures. Consumption frequencies of the various food groups by the children varied. Biochemical analysis of saliva samples indicated that majority of the children had their salivary pH within normal salivary pH ranges indicating adequate micronutrient levels. There was no relationship between total protein, albumin and amylase concentrations in saliva and the nutritional status of the children.