- Abstract
- 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102954
The Ghana School Food Environment Is Associated With Dietary Diversity and Anemia: Findings From the 2022 National Nutrition and Health Survey of In-School Adolescents
- Jul 01, 2024
- Current Developments in Nutrition
- Mica Jenkins + 11 more +11
of multiply-fortified salt.Child, mother, and household characteristics were assessed at baseline.Hemoglobin concentrations from a venous blood sample were measured using an automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex XP-300, Japan).Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin < 11 g/dL.The association between child age, sex, morbidity in past two weeks, anthropometry; maternal demographics, body mass index, anemia status; household food security, dietary diversity score, socioeconomic status and anemia were explored using chi-square tests of independence.Variables that were associated with anemia at p < 0.1 were included in a multivariate logistic regression model.Results: Mean AE SD child age was 39.4AE12.2months.The prevalences of child stunting, wasting, and underweight were 14%, 7%, and 10%, respectively.Mean AE SD hemoglobin concentration was 11.3AE1.4g/dL and 37% of children were anemic.In bivariate analysis, the prevalence of anemia was higher among children who were younger, stunted, and those with mothers who were underweight, overweight/obese, and/or anemic.In multivariate analysis, the following factors were associated with an increased prevalence of anemia: child age < 30 months (OR4.26;95% CI:2.35, 7.74), 30-49 months (OR1.75;95% CI: 1.04, 2.92); child stunting (OR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.64); maternal underweight (OR: 2.59; 95%CI:1.25,5.39), maternal overweight/obese (OR1.96;95% CI:1.28, 3.0), and maternal anemia (OR 1.83: 95% CI: 1.23, 2.7).Conclusions: Younger age, child stunting, low or high maternal BMI, and maternal anemia were important factors associated with anemia among children 12-59 months of age in this setting.These factors should inform the targeting of interventions to reduce anemia.
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