Infant feeding, growth monitoring and the double burden of malnutrition among children aged 6 months and their mothers in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15537014
AutoresSiri Kaldenbach (0000-0001-8702-8943, Innlandet Hospital Trust, autor de correspondencia), Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv Engebretsen (0000-0001-5852-3611, University of Bergen), Lyn Haskins (0000-0003-3636-5370, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Catherine Conolly (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Christiane Horwood (0000-0003-4395-1423, Africa Health Research Institute)
Año2021
Volumen18
Número1
Páginase13288-e13288
Fecha de publicación2021-11-29
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.13288
PMID34845831
OpenAlexW3217508895
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas20

South Africa has a documented high prevalence of stunting and increasing obesity in children as well as obesity in adults. The double burden of malnutrition, which can be on an individual-, household- or population level, has implications for both health and the economic development of a community and country. This paper describes a large-scale survey (N = 774) of infant feeding, growth monitoring and anthropometry among mother and child pairs aged 6 months of age in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, conducted between January and August 2017. Among children, a large increase in the prevalence of stunting and obesity was seen between birth and 6 months of age increasing from 9.3% to 21.7% and 4.0% to 21.0%, respectively. 32.1% of the mothers were overweight [body mass index (BMI): 25.0-29.9] and 28.4% had obesity grade 1 (BMI: 30-<40). Although most mothers (93%; 563/605) initiated breastfeeding, the introduction of other foods started early with 17.6% (56/319) of the mothers having started giving other fluids or food to their child within the first month. At 6 months 70.6% (427/605) children were still breastfed and 23.5% were exclusively breastfed. In addition, we found that length measurements were done less frequently than weight measurements between birth and 6 months, on average 2.2 (SD: 1.3) versus 5.8 (SD: 1.5) times. Moreover, there is a need for improvement of health worker training and understanding regarding anthropometric measurements when assessing malnutrition in children in the clinics. Early detection and improved infant feeding practices are key in preventing both stunting and obesity in children

Anthropometry · Body mass index · Breast feeding · Breastfeeding · Double burden · Environmental health · Malnutrition · Obesity · Overweight · Population · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Pediatrics