The relationship between dietary intake and adiposity in South African female adolescents : a systematic review

: The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in developing nations over the past decade, particularly among adolescent girls. To assess the scale of this epidemic among female adolescents in South Africa, a systematic review was undertaken to investigate the connection between diet and obesity. Multiple databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies investigating the associations between diet and various adiposity indices as outcomes. Of the 56 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion criteria. The age range of participants spanned from 11 to 21 years. Tabulation was used to report the data, study by study. The consumption of nutrients from animal sources exhibited a positive correlation with higher BMI-for-age Z scores (p = 0.02). Eating habits such as sporadic family meals (p ≤ 0.02), irregular breakfast consumption (p ≤ 0.05), and a high energy intake derived from fat were linked to an increased risk of adiposity. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status and residential location revealed associations with certain dietary intakes and adiposity. As more studies identify the causative role of diet in obesity, there is an urgent need for policy intervention and strategies to address the growing non-communicable disease burden in South Africa.The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in developing nations over the past decade, particularly among adolescent girls. To assess the scale of this epidemic among female adolescents in South Africa, a systematic review was undertaken to investigate the connection between diet and obesity. Multiple databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies investigating the associations between diet and various adiposity indices as outcomes. Of the 56 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion criteria. The age range of participants spanned from 11 to 21 years. Tabulation was used to report the data, study by study. The consumption of nutrients from animal sources exhibited a positive correlation with higher BMI-for-age Z scores (p = 0.02). Eating habits such as sporadic family meals (p ≤ 0.02), irregular breakfast consumption (p ≤ 0.05), and a high energy intake derived from fat were linked to an increased risk of adiposity. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status and residential location revealed associations with certain dietary intakes and adiposity. As more studies identify the causative role of diet in obesity, there is an urgent need for policy intervention and strategies to address the growing non-communicable disease burden in South Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsciHuman Nutritio

A Delphi consensus study to determine the workload components and activity standards of dietitians in South Africa's central and tertiary public hospitals

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to these being the property of the South African Department of Health but are available from VNN on reasonable request and with permission and approval from the South African Department of Health and its corresponding research committees at provincial and hospital level.BACKGROUND : The global Human Resources for Health (HRH) strategy emphasizes the need to invest in HRH to meet population needs and improve the provision of quality health care services. In South Africa, dietitians are recognized as registered professionals who provide nutrition services. In this paper, we used 2 key steps (3 and 4) of the eight step World Health Organization (WHO) Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) methodology to determine the workload components and activity standards for dietitians at South African central and tertiary public hospitals. METHODS : All (9) provincial nutrition managers (phase one) and 21 out of a total 22 head dietitians at central and tertiary public hospitals (phase two) participated in an online survey. In phase one, the provincial managers provided the job descriptions (JDs) of dietitians in their provinces, and the JDs were analyzed to determine the baseline workload components. In phase two, dietitians participated in a multi-stage Delphi process to reach consensus on workload components and activity standards. Consensus was deemed to be agreement of 70% or more, while the median of participants’ responses was used to obtain consensus on the activity standards. RESULTS : The JDs of dietitians were a useful baseline for the consensus exercise as there were no other suitable source documents. The response rate was 100% for all three rounds of the Delphi survey. Dietitians reached agreement (consensus ≥ 70%) on 92% of proposed workload components and activity standards. Following the removal of duplicate and certain administrative activities, a total of 15 health, 15 support and 15 additional service activities with aligned activity standards resulted from the consensus exercise. CONCLUSION : The Delphi technique was a suitable method for reaching agreement on workload components and activity standards for dietitians at South African central and tertiary public hospitals. The findings from this study can now be used to compile a standardized list of workload components and activity standards and ultimately to determine dietetic staffing needs for the central and tertiary public hospital level of care.https://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.comhj2024Human NutritionSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements : a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE : The study aimed to explore and describe the infant feeding experiences of mothers of children aged 3 to 24 months, living in two selected informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa. DESIGN : This exploratory qualitative study gathered data via six focus-group discussions (FGDs). These were facilitated using a semi-structured questionnaire guide with probes. Data were then transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. SETTING : The study was conducted in the two selected informal settlements in the west of Tshwane, South Africa. SUBJECTS : Biological mothers (n = 28) of infants and young children aged 3 to 24 months, living in the selected informal settlements participated. The mothers had to be living with their child with some responsibility for their daily care and feeding. RESULTS : Three themes with six sub-themes were identified following thematic analysis. First was the mothers’ experience of infant feeding, which included their interpretations and practices of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Second, mothers received infant feeding support from their elders based on common beliefs. The support received from healthcare workers was sometimes perceived negatively. However, healthcare workers based at healthcare facilities were important sources of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding information. Third were the setting-related factors that negatively affected the mothers’ ability to access nutritious food for themselves and their infants. These included household food insecurity, plus environmental and household factors affecting food storage and preparation. CONCLUSION : Mothers experienced several challenging circumstances affecting their infant feeding efforts. These findings highlight the need to strengthen targeted infant feeding counselling and support for mothers living in resourceconstrained environments.http://www.sajcn.co.za/index.php/SAJCNam2024Human NutritionNursing ScienceSDG-02:Zero Hunge

Exploring the infant feeding experiences of mothers living in selected Tshwane informal settlements: a qualitative study

Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the infant feeding experiences of mothers of children aged 3 to 24 months, living in two selected informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa. Design: This exploratory qualitative study gathered data via six focus-group discussions (FGDs). These were facilitated using a semi-structured questionnaire guide with probes. Data were then transcribed, coded and thematically analysed. Setting: The study was conducted in the two selected informal settlements in the west of Tshwane, South Africa. Subjects: Biological mothers (n = 28) of infants and young children aged 3 to 24 months, living in the selected informal settlements participated. The mothers had to be living with their child with some responsibility for their daily care and feeding. Results: Three themes with six sub-themes were identified following thematic analysis. First was the mothers’ experience of infant feeding, which included their interpretations and practices of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Second, mothers received infant feeding support from their elders based on common beliefs. The support received from healthcare workers was sometimes perceived negatively. However, healthcare workers based at healthcare facilities were important sources of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding information. Third were the setting-related factors that negatively affected the mothers’ ability to access nutritious food for themselves and their infants. These included household food insecurity, plus environmental and household factors affecting food storage and preparation. Conclusion: Mothers experienced several challenging circumstances affecting their infant feeding efforts. These findings highlight the need to strengthen targeted infant feeding counselling and support for mothers living in resource-constrained environments