Supporting maternal and child nutrition

Views from community members in rural Northern Ghana

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15095239
AutoresCornelius Debpuur (0000-0003-0968-5280, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Engelbert A Nonterah (0000-0001-8491-6478, Utrecht University), Samuel T Chatio, Samuel Chatio (0000-0001-9998-748X, Navrongo Health Research Centre, autor de correspondencia), James K Adoctor, James Adoctor (Navrongo Health Research Centre), Edith Dambayi (0000-0003-4371-1227, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Paula Beeri (Navrongo Health Research Centre), Esmond W Nonterah (0000-0002-9469-3084, Utrecht University), Doreen Ayi-Bisah (Navrongo Health Research Centre), Daniella Watson (0000-0001-6353-7495, University of Southampton), Sarah H Kehoe (0000-0003-2584-7999, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit), Maxwell Ayindenaba Dalaba (0000-0002-7101-769X, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Winfred Ofosu (Ghana Health Service), Raymond A Aborigo (0000-0003-0642-9265, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Raymond Aborigo, Paul Welaga (0000-0002-0108-3384, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Abraham Oduro (0000-0002-4191-7419, Navrongo Health Research Centre), Abraham R Oduro, Marie-Louise Newell (0000-0002-1074-7699, University of the Witwatersrand), Marie E Barker (0000-0003-2976-0217, National Health Service)
Año2021
Volumen24
Número12
Páginas3719-3726
Fecha de publicación2021-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s136898002000302x
PMID32972484
OpenAlexW3089204840
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas29

Objective: Despite efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition, undernutrition remains a major public health challenge in Ghana. The current study explored community perceptions of undernutrition and context-specific interventions that could improve maternal and child nutrition in rural Northern Ghana. Design: This exploratory qualitative study used ten focus group discussions to gather primary data. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and coded into themes using Nvivo 12 software to aid thematic analysis. Setting: The study was conducted in rural Kassena-Nankana Districts of Northern Ghana. Study participants: Thirty-three men and fifty-one women aged 18–50 years were randomly selected from the community. Results: Most participants reported poverty, lack of irrigated agricultural land and poor harvests as the main barriers to optimal nutrition. To improve maternal and child nutrition, study participants suggested that the construction of dams at the community level would facilitate all year round farming including rearing of animals. Participants perceived that the provision of agricultural materials such as high yield seedlings, pesticides and fertiliser would help boost agricultural productivity. They also recommended community-based nutrition education by trained health volunteers, focused on types of locally produced foods and appropriate ways to prepare them to help improve maternal and child nutrition. Conclusion: Drawing on these findings and existing literature, we argue that supporting community initiated nutrition interventions such as improved irrigation for dry season farming, provision of agricultural inputs and community education could improve maternal and child nutrition

Agricultural productivity · Agriculture · Business · Context (archaeology · Economic growth · Environmental health · Exploratory research · Focus group · Geography · Malnutrition · Nutrition Education · Poverty · Psychological intervention · Public health · Qualitative research · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Gerontology