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SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL NUTRIENT CONTRIBUTION OF UNDERUTILIZED FOODS IN COMMUNITY-BASED INFANT FOODS IN NORTHERN GHANA

2025-12-18T10:58:16Z

Title: SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL NUTRIENT CONTRIBUTION OF UNDERUTILIZED FOODS IN COMMUNITY-BASED INFANT FOODS IN NORTHERN GHANA Authors: Kubuga, C. K.; Bantiu, C.; Low, J. Abstract: In rural Ghana, infant feeding is largely home-based or community-based yet less is known about the kinds of community-based infant foods and the ability of families to create a range of recipes for baby feeding using context-specific ingredients particularly in northern Ghana which has a high prevalence of malnutrition. In this explorative study on mothers (15–49 years; n = 46), we investigated community-based infant foods’ food group composition, enrichment, nutrient contribution, and acceptability. The identified community-based infant foods were mainly made of either corn or millet porridges in northern Ghana and had three nutrients with % RNI 70. We developed 38 recipes of enriched community-based infant foods adding underutilized foods (orange-fleshed sweet potato, pawpaw, cowpea, moringa, groundnut, Bambara beans, and soya beans) to increase the number of nutrients from three to at least five and at most nine nutrients with % RNI 70 based on the recipe combinations. The enriched community-based infant food recipes provided adequate caloric amounts and modest improvements in micronutrient content for infants (6–12 months). All recipes tested were deemed appropriate and acceptable for infants by mothers. Moringa and pawpaw emerged as the lowest-cost ingredients to add among the underutilized foods. Future research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the new recipes at promoting linear growth and improving micronutrient status during the complementary feeding period

EARLY INITIATION OF BREASTFEEDING, BOTTLE FEEDING, AND EXPERIENCING FEEDING CHALLENGES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION

2025-12-18T10:41:27Z

Title: EARLY INITIATION OF BREASTFEEDING, BOTTLE FEEDING, AND EXPERIENCING FEEDING CHALLENGES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION Authors: Garti, H.; Bukari, M.; Wemakor, A. Abstract: Malnutrition remains a public health concern amidst low proportions of the core infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, yet, data on specific child feeding practices that are associated with undernutrition are rare. Hence, this study sought to assess child feeding practices and their association with undernutrition among young children. An analytical cross-sectional design was used among mothers/caregivers with children aged 6–23 months, attending child welfare clinics in Techiman municipality, Ghana. Simple random sampling was used to select 8 health facilities, and 403 participants were selected from those facilities using proportional stratification. A 24-h dietary recall based on seven food groups was used to collect data on children's dietary intake and used to derive WHO child feeding indicators. The length, weight, and age of children were taken and used to compute anthropometric z-scores. The proportions of children who met their minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were 44%, 56%, and 36% respectively. Children 6–8 months [AOR=2.24, CI (1.037–4.841); p = .04] and 9-11 months [AOR=2.47, CI (1.096–5.573); p = .029], those who were not breastfed within the first hour of delivery [AOR = 3.56, CI (1.833–6.912), p < .001], and those who were bottle fed [AOR = 2.87, CI (1.374–5.973); p = .005] were more likely to be wasted. Children 6–8 months [AOR = 0.29, CI (0.126–0.672); p = .004] and 9–11 months [AOR = 0.24, CI (0.104–0.544); p = .001] and those who experienced feeding challenges [AOR = 0.52, CI (0.301–0.905); p = 0.021] were protected against stunting. The percentages of children who met their MDD, MMF, and MAD were low and not associated with undernutrition. Early initiation of breastfeeding and bottle feeding were associated with acute malnutrition and experiencing feeding challenges was associated with chronic malnutrition. Promoting appropriate child feeding practices can reduce the risk of undernutrition

THE COMPETENCE OF STREET FOOD VENDORS TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS AND SAFE FOOD TO CONSUMERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY AMONG STREET FOOD VENDORS IN NORTHERN GHANA

2025-07-09T11:15:05Z

Title: THE COMPETENCE OF STREET FOOD VENDORS TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS AND SAFE FOOD TO CONSUMERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY AMONG STREET FOOD VENDORS IN NORTHERN GHANA Authors: Yakubu, M.; Gaa, P. K; Kalog, G. L. S.; Mogre, V. Abstract: Increasingly most people have their meals outside their homes and are vulnerable to illnesses caused by unsafe foods. Unsafe food preparation and supply by vendors have made food safety a concern for public health. The present study evaluated the nutrition knowledge, attitude and food safety and hygienic practices of street food vendors (SFVs) in Northern Ghana. An analytical cross-sectional study design was conducted among 424 SFVs, and the data were collected using questionnaires and observation. The mean ± SD nutrition knowledge score of the SFVs was 7⋅08 ± 1⋅75 in which the majority of the participants (68⋅6 %) knew foods that help fight diseases and build immunity. The mean ± SD food safety and hygienic practice score was 7⋅61 ± 2⋅66 with more than half of the participants reportedly not using hand gloves while preparing and serving food. Factors that were associated with food safety and hygienic practices of the SFVs were level of education (β = −0⋅36, P < 0⋅001), number of hours worked (β = 0⋅15, P = 0⋅002), food hygiene and safety knowledge (β = 0⋅21, P = 0⋅002), having a business certificate (β = −0⋅15, P = 0⋅004) and having medical check-up (β = 0⋅11, P = 0⋅029). The food safety and hygienic practices of the SFVs may constitute a food safety risk to consumers. Improving food safety and hygiene knowledge may be important but regular monitoring and check-up by the FDA could result in SFVs following the required food safety and hygienic practices.

KNOWLEDGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES, KNOWLEDGE OF TYPES, AND IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES TO CONTRACEPTIVES USE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

2025-04-30T19:17:20Z

Title: KNOWLEDGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES, KNOWLEDGE OF TYPES, AND IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES TO CONTRACEPTIVES USE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES Authors: Issah, H.; Salifu, A.; Awal, I. Abstract: Background: Contraceptives are classified primarily into two categories: classic/traditional and modern methods. They are considered as critical preventive measure of unplanned pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections (STIs). This survey was carried out among nursing students of the University for Development Studies main campus in Tamale (UDS). The aim of the study was to describe undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge of contraceptives, their knowledge of the types, and the challenges they identified to be associated with contraceptive use. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was carried out among 230 nursing students (n = 230). A quota was assigned to each level of study (that is, levels 100, 200, 300, and 400) based on the population of students at each level of study. Following that, participants were randomly selected using a class list as a sample frame. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to students for their response. With the help of IBM’s Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22), analysis of the data was conducted using descriptive statistics. Results: Approximately 60% of research participants reported having their first sexual encounter between the ages of 15 and 19, with 35% reporting utilizing contraception. Contraception was currently used by 58 percent of recruited students, 82 percent of whom were Christians. There was a gradient in students’ knowledge of contraceptives, with the level 100 being the least and level 400 with the highest knowledge. Condom was the most known and often used technique (52%), followed by emergency contraception (14%). Again, the most frequently cited reasons for using contraceptives were to avoid pregnancy or to prevent someone else from becoming pregnant (57%), and to prevent sexually transmitted illnesses (43%). At 40%, pharmacy/drug stores were reported to be the most popular supplier of contraceptives, followed by family planning clinics at 26%. By virtue of the type of contraceptive commonly used by participants, most of them (75%) reported not experiencing challenge in using contraceptives. For the nonusers of contraceptives, various reasons were cited including that it was against their faith (26%), the fear of side effects (25%), among others. Conclusion: Notwithstanding that a greater number of the students had knowledge of at least one contraceptive technique, it did not translate into improved consistent use of contraceptive. There is lacked of adequate knowledge of many contraceptive techniques. We recommend the implementation of educational programs to increase students’ knowledge of the various types of contraceptives, including the benefits and drawbacks of all contraceptive techniques. Making contraceptives, mainly condoms, more accessible in appropriate, culturally sensitive, student-friendly contexts has never been more critical than it is now, particularly in light of the growing need to address the proliferation of misguided and misleading information on sexuality and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents in the social media