Nutritional status of preschool children in Togo, 1976-77
Insights
This study assessed protein-energy undernutrition and anemia in Togolese children. Undernutrition was higher in rural northern regions, while anemia affected over half the children surveyed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Global Health
Background:
- Protein-energy undernutrition and anemia are significant global child health issues.
- Assessing nutritional status in preschool children is crucial for early intervention.
- Togo faces challenges in child health, necessitating comprehensive nutritional assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and distribution of acute and chronic undernutrition in Togolese preschool children.
- To assess the prevalence of anemia in the same population.
- To compare the nutritional status of socioeconomically privileged children with the general preschool population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 163 rural villages and 41 urban areas in Togo.
- Data collected included weight, height, arm circumference, age, and pedal edema from 6120 children (6-72 months).
- Hemoglobin levels were measured in one-fifth of the children; undernutrition was defined using weight-for-height and height-for-age Z-scores.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of acute undernutrition was 2.0% and chronic undernutrition was 19.1%.
- Anemia prevalence was high at 58.6%, with higher rates in northern rural regions.
- Undernutrition and anemia were most prevalent in northern rural areas and least in urban areas.
- Socioeconomically privileged children showed significantly better nutritional status compared to the general survey group.
Conclusions:
- Protein-energy undernutrition and anemia are prevalent public health concerns among preschool children in Togo.
- Geographical disparities exist, with northern rural regions showing higher burdens.
- The survey methodology was efficient for rapid data collection on child nutritional status.
Abstract:
Survey teams visited 163 rural villages and 41 urban quarters in Togo and collected data on weight, height, arm circumference, age, and pedal oedema from 6120 children aged 6-72 months. Haemoglobin levels were determined for one-fifth of the survey children. When 80% of the reference median weight-for-height was used as the cut-off point, the prevalence of acute undernutrition was 2.0%. When 90% of the reference median height-for-age was used as the cut-off point, the prevalence of chronic undernutrition was 19.1%. The prevalence of both types of undernutrition was significantly higher in the northern rural regions, with the lowest prevalence in the urban areas. The prevalence of anaemia was 58.6%, with the highest prevalence in the northern regions. Anthropometric data on socioeconomically privileged preschool children were collected and compared with those for the survey children and the reference population. The socioeconomically privileged preschool group of Togolese children had a nutritional status substantially better than that of the survey children and nearly equivalent to that of the American reference population. The survey method was economical in terms of money, time, and personnel. The methodology employed rapidly provided objective data on the extent and distribution of protein-energy undernutrition and anaemia in the preschool children of Togo.
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