Dietary diversity predicts the adequacy of micronutrient intake in 6- to 23-month-old children regardless of the season in rural Southern Benin

Background: The Infants and Young Children Dietary Diversity Score (IYC-DDS-7) has been validated to assess dietary quality in children. However, its applicability to predict the adequacy of micronutrient intake remains a challenge in all contexts. Design and Methods: A 24-hour dietary recall assessment was conducted on a sample of 628 children aged 6 to 23 months in the plenty season (PS) as well as in the lean season (LS). The IYC-DDS-7 was calculated based on 7 food groups, whereas the mean micronutrient density adequacy (MMDA) for 11 micronutrients. The β regression models were used to assess the relationship between IYC-DDS and MMDA and differences in nutrient intake between the 2 seasons. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was also performed to determine IYC-DDS-7 cutoff levels that maximized sensitivity and specificity in assessing dietary quality and predicting MMDA below- or above-selected cutoff levels. Results: Participating children’s MMDA was 56.9% ± 12.8% versus 61.9% ± 8.6% and IYC-DDS-7 was 3.43 ± 1.5 versus 3.77 ± 1.0 in the PS and LS. The IYC-DDS-7 had a positive correlation with MMDA, irrespective of the season. For a 1-unit increase in IYC-DDS-7, MMDA increased by a mean of 10.7% (CI, 8.3%-13.1%; P < .001). The minimum threshold of the 4 food groups corresponded to a sensitivity of 76% and 61% and a specificity of 75% and 70% for the prediction of inadequate diet in the PS and LS, respectively. Conclusions: The IYC-DDS-7 predicted MMDA, regardless of seasons for infants and young children. The IYC-DDS-7 cutoff of 4 groups performed well in classifying children with low-diet quality

Local knowledge of agricultural biodiversity and food uses of edible plant species in two agroecological zones of southern Benin

Locally available food plants are not only a good source of essential micronutrients but also provided culturally acceptable foods. Their evaluation could be a sustainable strategy that can effectively meet the nutrient requirements for vulnerable groupsin rural areas. They are therefore of great importance in ensuring food security in low-and middle-income countries. Several communities in Benin depend mainly on indigenous food sources especially plant species. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in southern Benin to document the edible plant species (EPS) used by people living in two agroecological zones (AEZ 6 and AEZ 8). Field investigations were carried out in eight villages of the two agroecological zones, with four villages per agroecological zone. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 146 edible plant species belonging to 46 families were recorded and herbarium specimens were collected and deposited at the national herbarium of Benin. Species diversity was lower in AEZ 6 compared with AEZ 8. Herbs and shrubs were the dominant plant habits, with leaves and fruits (arils, flesh, pulp) as the most reported plant parts that were consumed mainly as leafy vegetables or fruits. The study area harbors an important plant diversity with high nutritional potential. Nutrient-dense leafy vegetables and fruit species were dominant. This represents an opportunity that could be used to improve the diet quality and food security in the study area. However, the locally available food plant species remain undervalued

Towards adequate food environment in Benin public primary schools, the challenge of food supply and hygiene practices: a case study of three municipalities

Background and aim: School food environment is a component of food system which provides the opportunity to implement interventions that lead to better nutrition. This study aimed to describe two of the five components of food environment notably food supply and food safety through hygiene practices in schools inside Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi and Sèmè-Kpodji, in Benin country. Methods: Twelve schools were randomly selected from a sampling frame of all public primary schools with canteens and that have space for school gardens and closer to the market garden sites. In the selected schools, we assessed the diversity of the Food Supply using Food Group Score (FGS) and Hygiene practices using the Summary Hygiene Index (SHI). Data were mainly collected using semi-structured questionnaire administered to foods cookers/ vendors and by observation within schools. Fifteen food groups were considered to determine the FGS and 15 for SHI. Wilcoxon test was used to compare scores among urban and peri-urban areas. Results: Food supply appeared to be limited in 9 schools (FGS< 8) over the 12 with no significant difference between periurban and urban zone (p-value = 0.72). The most represented food group which was available in all schools are cereals, legumes, nuts, seeds, followed by sweet foods and drink while others groups (source of vitamin A and micronutrients) are poorly represented. It appears in all schools a low variability of food within each group. Basically, 8 schools out of 12 have a SHI lower than the median score (08) and the urban zone has a SHI (SHI = 9.5 ± 1.29) higher than peri-urban (SHI = 6.5 ± 1.18) with p-value = 0.015. Conclusions: The food supply is not very diversified in public primary schools and hygiene practices need to be improved for a healthy food environment around schools

Contribution of local agrobiodiversity to complementary foods for 6 to 23 months old children in southern rural Benin

In rural Benin, malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies, contrasts with a rich agrobiodiversity that abounds in cultivated or wild foods that are potential sources of micronutrients. This paradox leads us to examine the role of local agrobiodiversity in the diet of children living in two agroecological zones of southern Benin. This study involved 1,263 children aged 6-23 months from 17 randomly selected villages in Southern Benin. A multiple-pass 24-h recall method on two non-consecutive days with the estimation of the consumed portions was used to collect dietary intake data. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect socioeconomic and demographic data to explore factors driving agrobiodiversity food consumption, especially wild foods. Non-parametric analyses based on gamma distribution were performed to establish the effect of wild food consumption on vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc intakes. Conditional inference tree-classification models were performed to identify factors driving wild food consumption. Among a total of 48 local foods that were reported as consumed by children, 11 were from wild species. The contributions of total local agrobiodiversity to nutrient intake of complementary foods was between 49% (calcium) and 98% (vitamin A). Cultivated species contributed to local agrobiodiversity foods for 57% (calcium) and 96 % (zinc). The semi-domesticated species have a contribution of between 2% (zinc) and 35% (calcium) to nutrient intake. Wild species contribution to nutrient intake was between 1% (zinc) and 9% for vitamin C. Wild foods consumption correlated significantly and positively with calcium and vitamin A intakes among children. Socio-linguistic factors such as ethnicity and religion of the household head were determinants of wild food consumption. These findings suggest that sensitization on the nutritional importance of the wild foods including socio-linguistic factors may be necessary to promote wild foods’ consumption. This could be a good strategy to promote healthy diets in local communities