Maternal daily work hours affect nutritional status of children in Northern Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Data on the effect of maternal daily work hours on child nutritional status is scarce in Ghana. Such data may be important in defining maternal employment policies for improved child nutrition. This study therefore sought to determine the effect of maternal daily work hours on the nutritional status of farmer and public service mothers in the northern region of Ghana. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among 320 mothers with children 6–59 months. Maternal daily work hours and dietary intake of children were assessed with a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of children were also taken to classify child nutritional status. The association between maternal daily work hours and child nutritional status was determined using both bivariate analysis and multivariate regression modelling. RESULTS: Majority of the children (45.1%) were aged between their second and third birthdays. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 17.8, 8.1, and 10.3% respectively. Only stunting (p = 0.031) associated significantly with maternal employment and was higher among children of farmers (22.1%) compared to public servants (12.8%). Even though maternal age (p = 0.035), minimum dietary diversity (p = 0.040), non-consumption of legumes (p = 0.031) and other vegetables (p = 0.006) associated with stunting at bivariate level, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only maternal daily work hours had significant effect on stunting. Compared to mothers who worked above 6 h a day, those who worked only a maximum of 4 h were 5.4 times more likely to have stunted children [AOR = 5.375; 95% CI (1.751–16.502); p = 0.003]. CONCLUSION: Present study results show that maternal daily work hours could be an important determinant of child stunting in northern region of Ghana

Young maternal age is a risk factor for child undernutrition in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract Objective Malnutrition is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional status of children under 5 years of teenage and adult mothers in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. A case–control study involving 300 (150 cases, 150 controls) mother–child pairs was carried out. A questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics of mothers and children and anthropometry was used to assess the nutritional status of children. Anthropometric z-scores derived based on WHO Child Growth Standards were used to determine stunting, wasting and underweight statuses of children. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the nutritional status of children of teenage and adult mothers. Results Children of teenage mothers, compared to those of adult mothers, were 8 times more likely to be stunted [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 7.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.20–13.63], 3 times more likely to be wasted (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.04–8.04), and 13 times more likely to be underweight (AOR = 12.78; 95% CI 4.69–34.81) after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk of child malnutrition increases with young maternal age; interventions should be targeted at teenage mothers and their children to reduce the risk of malnutrition

Relationship between Female University Students’ Knowledge on Menstruation and Their Menstrual Hygiene Practices: A Study in Tamale, Ghana

Positive perception about menstruation and good menstrual hygiene practice safeguards the health of postpubescent females by reducing their vulnerability to reproductive and urinary tract infections. Using a questionnaire, a cross-sectional study involving 293 randomly selected female undergraduate students in northern Ghana assessed the relationship between knowledge on menstruation and the practice of safe menstrual hygiene. Data collected was analyzed using GraphPad 5.01. This study found that although majority of respondents (73.4%) were aware of menstruation before menarche, most of them experienced fear and panic when it occurred. Mothers were the first to be informed when menstruation occurred, although teachers first provided them knowledge on menstruation. Respondents’ knowledge on menstruation was average (57.3%) but their menstrual hygiene practice was good (80.2%). Age (p=0.005) and course of study (p=0.0008) significantly influenced respondents’ knowledge on menstruation with older students as well as the medical and midwifery students being most knowledgeable. Muslim rather than Christian female students practiced better menstrual hygiene (p=0.0001). Average knowledge score on menstruation indicated a deficit of knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system. Increasing knowledge on menstruation had a positive and significant effect on practice of good menstrual hygiene

Age at Menarche and Factors that Influence It: A Study among Female University Students in Tamale, Northern Ghana.

INTRODUCTION:Age at menarche reflects the health status of a population. This marks the beginning of sexual maturation and is affected by nutritional status and prevailing environmental conditions. This study measured the menarcheal age of female undergraduate students in northern Ghana and explored factors that could impact on the onset of menarche. METHOD:GraphPad 5.01 was used to analyze data collected from 293 randomly selected female university students in a cross-sectional study using a semi-structured questionnaire. Association between different variables was tested using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS:The mean recall age at menarche of participants in this study was 13.66 ±1.87 years for a female population of mean age, 23.04±5.07 years. Compared to female students who lived in rural settings, urban and suburban areas dwellers significantly recorded earlier menarche (p = 0.0006). Again, females from high income earning families experienced menarche earlier than those who were born to or lived with lower income earners (p = 0.003). Lower menarcheal age increased risk of experiencing menstrual pain prior to menses rather than during menstrual flow for dysmenorrhic females. (13.52±2.052 vrs 13.63±1.582 year; χ2 = 7.181, df = 2, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION:Mean menarcheal age of female university students in northern Ghana was 13.66 years. Females from urban areas and high income families had earlier menarche. Compared to the very first Ghanaian study reported in 1989, the menarcheal age decline was 0.11 year per decade

Relationship between menarcheal age and menstrual characteristics of respondents.

<p>Relationship between menarcheal age and menstrual characteristics of respondents.</p

Socio-demographic profile of the respondents.

<p>Socio-demographic profile of the respondents.</p

Distribution of ages at menarche based on type of accommodation and living area at menarche as well as course of study of respondents.

<p>Distribution of ages at menarche based on type of accommodation and living area at menarche as well as course of study of respondents.</p

Distribution of the recalled menarcheal ages of respondents.

<p>Number above each bar represents the actual number of respondents for each stated recalled age at menarche.</p

Menstruation history and characteristics of the respondents.

<p>Menstruation history and characteristics of the respondents.</p

Assessing nurses’ knowledge levels in the nutritional management of diabetes

Although nutrition education for diabetes patients is the responsibility of dieticians and/or nutritionist, nurses have an important role to play. This study measured the knowledge level of nurses’ and associated factors in the nutritional management of diabetes. In this cross-sectional study a sample of 200 nurses completed a 21-item nutritional management of diabetes knowledge test developed based on the ADA and WHO guidelines for the nutritional management of diabetes. Using Cronbach's alpha, reliability was 0.62. The nurses (n = 200) had almost a 1:1 male to female ratio (n = 99, 49.5% and n = 101, 50.5%) and a mean age of 27.24 ± 3.66 years. Total mean score was 12.13 ± 3.17 (44.9% correct). Over 70% of the nurses said diabetes patients could exclude any of the major nutrients from their meals. Almost 90% (n = 179) of the nurses did not know the recommended daily caloric intake of carbohydrates for diabetes patients. Higher mean scores were found in nurses who have ever had a refresher course in nutrition, ever counseled a diabetes patient and took 2–3 nutrition courses during school. Nurses’ knowledge in the nutritional management of diabetes was poor. It raises questions about the adequacy of nurses’ knowledge in the nutritional management of diabetes