How is household food insecurity and maternal nutritional status associated in a resource-poor setting in Ghana?

Abstract

Background:Population-based studies show household food insecurity is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of overweight in adult women in developed countries. However, there is insufficient empirical evidence of the association between food insecurity and maternal nutritional status in resource-poor settings. This study investigated the relationship between household food insecurity (HFI) and maternal nutritional status in a resource-poor setting of Ghana, where some households suffer from some form of food insecurity during the year. Methods:A community-based cross-sectional cluster study was conducted in June 2015. The study communities were selected using probability proportionate to size. The study population comprised non-lactating and non-pregnant women who were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. HFI was quantified using the Household Hunger Scale. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to test whether HFI significantly predicts maternal nutritional status, controlling for potential confounding factors. BMI was used to assess the nutritional status. Results:The prevalence of moderate to severe household hunger was 46.9 %. In analysis of covariance, while adjusting for household size, place of residence and household wealth index, the mean BMI for women from foodsecure households was 1.4 kg/m 2 significantly higher than the mean BMI for women from food-insecure households (25.7 ± 5.3 vs. 24.3 ± 4.0) (95 % CI 0.54-2.35), p = 0.002. Multivariable regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, there was a significant negative association between moderate to severe household hunger and BMI (β = −0.16, p < 0.001). Conclusions:In conclusion, food insecurity in the study population was prevalent and was associated with low maternal BMI. Household food insecurity was negatively associated with maternal overweight and obesity. Women in food-secure households were more likely than food-insecure households to consume milk, pulses, oily and sugarbased foods.

Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Lactating Mothers in Dega Damot Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia

“…In this study also, analysis of factors associated with undernutrition among lactating women revealed that respondents with household food insecure were 3.68 times more likely to be undernourished as compared to those households with food secured. is finding is supported by a research conducted in Kunama population, Ethiopia [25], and Ghana [27]. is might be because households with food insecure are not able to access sufficient food for an active and healthy life, and limited availability of food results in inadequate dietary intake which is the immediate cause of undernutrition.…”

Household factors and gestational age predict diet quality of pregnant women

“…It has also been linked to nutrition sufficiency, micronutrient adequacy (Ali et al, 2014) and pregnancy outcome (Cheng et al, 2009;Gao et al, 2013;Shamim et al, 2016;Willy et al, 2016). As food insecurity is high among households in Northern region and has adverse implications on nutritional status (Saaka, 2016), diet quality is likely to be poor among them. Pregnant women may be worst affected as their nutrient needs are higher.…”

Spatial variations of household food insecurity in East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia: implications for agroecosystem-based interventions

“…Agriculture & Food Security *Correspondence: zewdie1984@gmail.com 1 Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, P.O. Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article insecure countries in East Africa [6,7].…”

“…Food security is one of the necessary conditions for nutrition security, and the concept has been defined variously over the years [1]. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life [2].…”