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

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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.