Regular growth assessment of children helps maintain adequate dietary intake and physical growth. However, very little or no information is available on the nutritional status of children in orphanages in Cameroon making control of deficiency diseases in children very difficult in these institutions. The main aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and eating habits of children in some orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). The height and weight of 205 children (97 boys and 108 girls) ages 1-18 years were measured and their BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated. A structured questionnaire was used for eating habits and dietary data collection. A usual intake of nutrients was collected and some food samples from the orphanages were collected for three days and analyzed in the laboratory to determine children’s usual intakes of nutrients. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 15.7% of girls and 18.6% of boys were underweight, 3.7% of girls and 4.1% of boys were stunted and 16.5% of boys and 23.1% of girls were overweight/obese. The most eaten foods were cereals and the least were dairy products. Vegetables, fruits and milk consumption rates were low. The average intake of energy, protein and total fats was inadequate for orphanage children aged 14 to 18 years. The average intake of vitamin A, calcium and iron was inadequate in all orphanages compared to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Intake) values. Efforts should be directed towards educating the orphanage caregivers on meal planning and preparation to increase micronutrient intake in the orphanages’ diets and improve the health of the children. Food or financial aid should also be granted to these institutional care homes to enable them to improve on the overall nutritional content of foods.
Published in | International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 2) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13 |
Page(s) | 30-37 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Nutritional Status, Children, Orphanage, Eating Habits, Bamenda, Cameroon
[1] | De Onis, M, Monteiro C, Akre J, and Clugston G. The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO global data base on child growth. Bull. World Health Organisation, 2002: 71: 703-712. |
[2] | FAO. Soaring Food Prices: Facts, Perspectives, Impacts and Actions Required," background paper prepared for the High-Level Conference on World Food Security: The Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. 2008. Available at www.fao.org/foodclimate/conference/en/. |
[3] | Nelson M. Childhood nutrition and poverty. Proceedings of the nutrition society. Cambridge University press, 2000: 59: 307-315. |
[4] | Dakota Karratti. How poor nutrition affects child development. 2018. |
[5] | UNICEF. The State of the World’s Children 2019. Children, Food and Nutrition: Growing well in a changing world. UNICEF, New York. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 2019. |
[6] | UNICEF. Orphans. press center. https://www.unicef.org. 2017. |
[7] | De Onis M, Blo¨ssner M and Borghi E. Prevalence and trends of stunting among pre-school children, 1990–2020. Public Health Nutrition, 2011: 15 (1): 142–148. |
[8] | WHO. Fact sheet. Malnutrition. https.who.int, 2020. |
[9] | Ntaryike DJ. Child malnutrition spreading in Cameroon. http//www.voanews.com, 2013. |
[10] | Joint Council on International Children’s Services. Addressing Nutrition with Orphans and Adopted Children. 2020 Alliance to End Hunger, 2015. |
[11] | Ali Z, Abu N, Ankamah A, Abena EG, Alimatu SS. and Abdula-Razak A. Nutritional status and dietary diversity of orphan and non – orphan children under five years: a comparative study in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. BioMedical Central Nutrition, 2018: 4, 32. |
[12] | Sadik A. Orphanage children in Ghana: Are their dietary needs met? Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2010: 9 (9): 844-852. |
[13] | Okalla EC, Kedy DK, Calixte IP, Jean-Pierre NM, Fanta W, Servais AE, Elvis T. and Henry NL. Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Children Living in Orphanages in the City of Douala, Cameroon. International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2019: 8: 1-9. |
[14] | World food program. World food program Cameroon country brief November 2019. Saving lives changing lives, 2019. |
[15] | USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development). Food assistance fact sheet-Cameroon. https://usaid.gov, 2020. |
[16] | Martin R, Saller K. Lehrbuch der Anthropologie. Stuttgart: G. Fisher; 1956 (3). |
[17] | De Onis M, Onyango WA, Borghi E. Siyam A, Nishida C, Siekmann J. Development of a WHO growth reference for school-age children and adolescents. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2007: 85 (9): 660 – 667. |
[18] | Table of content. Dietary guidelines / health.gov. Appendix 7. nutritional goals for age sex group based on https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrient/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/table-of-contents/#subnav-4,2015-2020. |
[19] | Sharma S, Jackson M, Mbanya JC, Cade J, Forrester T, Wilks R, Balkau B, Cruickshank JK. Development of food frequency questionnaires in three population samples of African origin from Cameroon, Jamaica and Caribbean migrants to the UK. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1996: 50: 479-486. |
[20] | Suraksha S., Kushalata B., Maginsh D., Rama K. and Meena K. (2020). Nutritional status of children living in orphanage home of Kathmandu district, Nepal. International Journal of Research in Medical Science, 2020: 11-15. |
[21] | Huq AKO, Tanni C, Provat R, Haque KMF and Bellal MH. Health Care Facilities and Nutritional Status of Orphans Residing in Selected Orphanage in Capital City of Bangladesh. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science, 2013: 2 (10): 118-125. |
[22] | Reddy S. B., Naresh J., Indhraja K. and Ganapathy S. C. (2019). Nutritional status and personal hygiene of children living in the orphanages of Bhubaneswar: Capital city of Odisha. International Journal of Community Medicine Public Health, 2019: 6 (1): 379-385. |
[23] | Steve-Edemba CL. Assessment of the feeding practices, vitamin a, Iron, zinc and anthropometrics status of under-five Children in orphanages of federal capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria, 2012. |
[24] | Prendergast AJ, and Humphrey JH. “The stunting syndrome in developing countries,” Paediatrics and International Child Health, 2014: 34 (4): 250–265. |
[25] | Kamath SK, Kavana GV, and Ergod MS. Impact of nutritional status on the cognition in institutionalized orphans: A pilot study. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research, 2017: 11 (3): CC01-CC04. |
[26] | Aggarwal V, Anju S, Satinder A, Bhawna S, Pitamber S, Satveer S, and Raman KM. Role of Calcium Deficiency in Development of Nutritional Rickets in Indian Children: A Case-Control Study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2012: 97: 3461–3466. |
[27] | Arimond M. and Ruel M. Dietary diversity is associated with child nutrition status: Evidence from 11 demographic and health surveys. The journal of nutrition, 2004: 134: 2579-2585. |
[28] | Mwaniki EW, and Makokha AN. Nutrition Status of Children in Orphanages in Selected Primary Schools within Dagoretti Division Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Nutrition and Food Science, 2013: 4: 248. |
[29] | Pysz K, Teresa L and Aneta K. Assessment of nutritional habits and preferences of children and adolescents brought up in Krakow’s orphanages. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2015: 66 (3): 253-260. |
[30] | Agriculture in Cameroon. En.m.wikipedia.org/wik. 2018. |
[31] | Ministry of Health (MoH) / United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF). Anemia and status of iron, vitamin A and Zinc in Kenya. Inc. The 1999 National micronutrient survey report, 2001. In Mwaniki E. W and Makokha AN. Nutrition Status of Children in Orphanages in Selected Primary Schools within Dagoretti Division Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Nutrition and Food Science, 2013: 4: 248. |
[32] | Spear BA. Nutrition in adolescents, 2000. In: Sadik A. orphanage children in Ghana: are their dietary needs met? Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2010: 9 (9): 844-852. |
[33] | Lucas B. Nutrition in children, 2000. In: Sadik A. orphanage children in Ghana: are their dietary needs met? Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2010: 9 (9): 844-852. |
[34] | Trahms, CM. Nutrition in infancy, 2000. In: Sadik A. Orphanage children in Ghana: are their dietary needs met? Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2010: 9 (9): 844-852. |
[35] | Lone MA. and Ganesan P. Health and Nutritional Status of Orphan Children’s Living in Orphanages with Special Reference to District Anantnag of Jammu and Kashmir. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 2016: 3: 164-169. |
APA Style
Adeline Ambe Singwa, Agatha Nguti Tanya, Thierry Noumo Ngangmou, Lifoter Kenneth Navti, Primus Azinwi Tamfuh, et al. (2022). Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 11(2), 30-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13
ACS Style
Adeline Ambe Singwa; Agatha Nguti Tanya; Thierry Noumo Ngangmou; Lifoter Kenneth Navti; Primus Azinwi Tamfuh, et al. Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2022, 11(2), 30-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13
AMA Style
Adeline Ambe Singwa, Agatha Nguti Tanya, Thierry Noumo Ngangmou, Lifoter Kenneth Navti, Primus Azinwi Tamfuh, et al. Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2022;11(2):30-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13
@article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13, author = {Adeline Ambe Singwa and Agatha Nguti Tanya and Thierry Noumo Ngangmou and Lifoter Kenneth Navti and Primus Azinwi Tamfuh and Richard Aba Ejoh}, title = {Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon)}, journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {30-37}, doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20221102.13}, abstract = {Regular growth assessment of children helps maintain adequate dietary intake and physical growth. However, very little or no information is available on the nutritional status of children in orphanages in Cameroon making control of deficiency diseases in children very difficult in these institutions. The main aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and eating habits of children in some orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). The height and weight of 205 children (97 boys and 108 girls) ages 1-18 years were measured and their BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated. A structured questionnaire was used for eating habits and dietary data collection. A usual intake of nutrients was collected and some food samples from the orphanages were collected for three days and analyzed in the laboratory to determine children’s usual intakes of nutrients. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 15.7% of girls and 18.6% of boys were underweight, 3.7% of girls and 4.1% of boys were stunted and 16.5% of boys and 23.1% of girls were overweight/obese. The most eaten foods were cereals and the least were dairy products. Vegetables, fruits and milk consumption rates were low. The average intake of energy, protein and total fats was inadequate for orphanage children aged 14 to 18 years. The average intake of vitamin A, calcium and iron was inadequate in all orphanages compared to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Intake) values. Efforts should be directed towards educating the orphanage caregivers on meal planning and preparation to increase micronutrient intake in the orphanages’ diets and improve the health of the children. Food or financial aid should also be granted to these institutional care homes to enable them to improve on the overall nutritional content of foods.}, year = {2022} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon) AU - Adeline Ambe Singwa AU - Agatha Nguti Tanya AU - Thierry Noumo Ngangmou AU - Lifoter Kenneth Navti AU - Primus Azinwi Tamfuh AU - Richard Aba Ejoh Y1 - 2022/04/08 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13 DO - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13 T2 - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences JF - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences JO - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences SP - 30 EP - 37 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2327-2716 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20221102.13 AB - Regular growth assessment of children helps maintain adequate dietary intake and physical growth. However, very little or no information is available on the nutritional status of children in orphanages in Cameroon making control of deficiency diseases in children very difficult in these institutions. The main aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and eating habits of children in some orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). The height and weight of 205 children (97 boys and 108 girls) ages 1-18 years were measured and their BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated. A structured questionnaire was used for eating habits and dietary data collection. A usual intake of nutrients was collected and some food samples from the orphanages were collected for three days and analyzed in the laboratory to determine children’s usual intakes of nutrients. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 15.7% of girls and 18.6% of boys were underweight, 3.7% of girls and 4.1% of boys were stunted and 16.5% of boys and 23.1% of girls were overweight/obese. The most eaten foods were cereals and the least were dairy products. Vegetables, fruits and milk consumption rates were low. The average intake of energy, protein and total fats was inadequate for orphanage children aged 14 to 18 years. The average intake of vitamin A, calcium and iron was inadequate in all orphanages compared to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Intake) values. Efforts should be directed towards educating the orphanage caregivers on meal planning and preparation to increase micronutrient intake in the orphanages’ diets and improve the health of the children. Food or financial aid should also be granted to these institutional care homes to enable them to improve on the overall nutritional content of foods. VL - 11 IS - 2 ER -