African Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics

Benchmarking Policy Goals and Actions for Healthy Food Environments in Benin to Prevent Malnutrition

2024-07-02T09:53:03+00:00

Lifestyle and dietary shifts contributed to widespread or specific micronutrient deficiencies, leading to health issues such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. These problems are linked to unhealthy food environments, yet little was known about Benin’s policy responses. This study aimed to assess how different aspects of the food environment are addressed in Benin’s policy documents and their alignment with international best practices. The study analyzed intentions and actions to ensure a healthy food environment in Benin using various policy documents, including laws, decrees, sectoral policies, strategic and operational plans, regulations, directives, action plans, and program/project documents. It followed the Food-EPI tool (Healthy Food Environment Policy Index) of the INFORMAS network (International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs, Research, Monitoring, and Action Support), focusing on the “Policy” and “Infrastructure Support” components, with steps like contextual analysis, document collection, and evidence extraction. Of the 98 documents collected, 61 were analyzed and classified into frameworks: 54.09% in the policy framework, 29.50% in the strategic framework, and 16.39% in the operational framework. While nine food environment domains were addressed to some extent, disparities with international best practices were noted, especially in food composition, labeling, pricing, governance, and funding/resources. Evidence gaps were identified in retail food sales, food trade and investments, and health integration in policies. The study revealed diverse approaches and gaps in Benin’s policies for healthy food environments. Despite progress in some domains, like leadership and monitoring, others, including food composition and governance, needed more attention.

Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Undergraduate Students at a Nairobi Tertiary Institution Using BMI and Waist Circumference Metrics

2024-07-02T09:58:25+00:00

This study investigated the impact of dietary and lifestyle changes on the nutritional status of undergraduate students during their transition to university life and the associated risk for non-communicable diseases. A review of global studies indicated varying prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among university students, influenced by diet, physical activity, and sleep patterns. This research specifically assessed the nutritional status of Kenyatta University students in Nairobi, Kenya, with an emphasis on the limited studies utilizing both BMI and waist circumference for assessment. Employing a cross-sectional, analytical design, the study was conducted at Kenyatta University Main Campus in Nairobi County. This public research university, founded in 1970, was selected for its urban setting and its representation of young adults. The target population comprised undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees, with inclusion criteria of voluntary participation and at least six months on campus. Multi-stage stratified sampling was used to select 260 participants. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, pretested on 10% of the sample, with reliability assessed via a test-retest method. Anthropometric measurements were taken by trained research assistants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, evaluating nutritional status with BMI and waist circumference. Ethical considerations and COVID-19 protocols were rigorously observed. Findings revealed that, based on BMI, 67.5% of respondents had normal weight, while 8.4%, 16.5%, and 7.6% were underweight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25) was 24.1%. Female respondents showed a higher prevalence of obesity (63.2%) and overweight (73.2%) compared to males. In the underweight category, more males were underweight (57.1%) than females. Waist circumference assessment indicated that 21.7% had abdominal obesity, with a higher prevalence among females (87%) compared to males (13%), highlighting a gender-based risk factor for abdominal obesity. The study’s BMI analysis revealed a substantial proportion of respondents within the normal weight range, with significant gender disparities in obesity and overweight prevalence. The waist circumference assessment underscored a notable occurrence of abdominal obesity, particularly among females, indicating gender-specific susceptibility to this health concern.

Frequency and Severity of Cow’s Milk Allergy Reactions in Children: A Prospective Audit

2024-07-02T10:07:42+00:00

Milk ranks as the second most common allergen, following peanuts. Recent studies from Spain and the USA report an annual frequency of accidental allergic reactions (AAR) ranging from 34% to 40%. AAR severity is influenced by food allergens and the presence of atopic diseases such as asthma, eczema, hayfever, and recurrent wheezing. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of accidental allergic reactions in children with cow’s milk protein allergy between September 2011 to September 2012. Study design employed is missing. A structured questionnaire was used and the guardians to the patients guided in answering by the research assistants (Students). The questionnaire was conducted on 62 patients (35 males, 27 females) with a median age of 67 months. The inquiries were about the number and locations of accidental reactions, their severity, other food allergies, and risk factors such as asthma, hay-fever, recurrent wheezing, and eczema. Symptoms were classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and previous and current skin prick test results were recorded. Between 2011 and 2012, the frequency of AAR was found to be 57% (inclusive of adults). Among the children, 37 (60%) experienced 51 accidental reactions in the past year, with 43% classified as mild, 19% as moderate, and 38% as severe. The majority of reactions (60%) occurred at home, and treatment primarily involved the use of Chlorphenamine [Piriton©] (79%). Three anaphylactic reactions occurred and were identified leading to hospitalization and administration of epinephrine. Oral exposure was the primary route (89%), with milk-containing products being the most common allergen sources (51%). The main cause of AAR was attributed to mislabeling and misreading of labels, especially in newly implemented recipes and non-packaged cereal products like homemade croissants sold in cafes and restaurants. Other causes included high levels of peanut traces and hazelnuts in cookies and chocolates. In conclusion, accidental allergic reactions are prevalent in children and are often caused by contamination, mislabeling, recipe changes by companies, misinterpretation by caregivers, and direct milk intake. Risk factors for AAR severity include hay-fever, peanut allergy, multiple atopic diseases, and wheal size.