The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana
This study assessed the magnitude of hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) and cognitive deficits of 130 school-aged children (6–13 years old) living in three selected orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana. Sociodemographic data assessment, anthropometric assessment (BMI for age and height for age), diet...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Advances in Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9684785 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832552930121613312 |
|---|---|
| author | Marina Tandoh Mary Asamoah |
| author_facet | Marina Tandoh Mary Asamoah |
| author_sort | Marina Tandoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study assessed the magnitude of hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) and cognitive deficits of 130 school-aged children (6–13 years old) living in three selected orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana. Sociodemographic data assessment, anthropometric assessment (BMI for age and height for age), dietary assessment (3-day repeated 24-hour dietary recall), urinary iodine level assessment, and cognitive performance assessment (Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices) were performed. Boys formed 50.8% of the study population, while girls formed 49.2%. The median age of participants was 10.50 years. About 12.3%, 7%, and 10.0% of participants were stunted, thin, and overweight/obese, respectively. The prevalence of mild iodine deficiency (i.e., 50–99 μg/L) was 16.2%. Iodine deficiency was significantly higher (23.6%) in participants who had lived for at least 7 years in the orphanage compared to those who had lived less than 7 years (10.7%) (p=0.047). About 17% of the participants performed poorly (<50%) on the cognition test. Mean cognition test scores were significantly different among the orphanages (p=0.027). The majority of participants, 89.2%, 54.6%, 76.9%, and 77.7%, had adequate intake of iron, zinc, vitamin C, and folate, respectively, whereas intake of vitamins A and B12 was inadequate for the majority of participants (90.8% and 50.8%, respectively). There was no significant correlation between micronutrient intake and cognitive performance. However, mean cognition test scores were significantly different between participants with adequate and inadequate iron and vitamin A intake (p=0.007 and p<0.001, respectively). The findings of this study warrant a closer look at nutritional intakes in orphanages to improve hidden hunger and cognitive performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8da212189693450b8433be44bf943851 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2314-7784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-8da212189693450b8433be44bf9438512025-02-03T05:57:30ZengWileyAdvances in Public Health2314-77842022-01-01202210.1155/2022/9684785The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, GhanaMarina Tandoh0Mary Asamoah1Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Human Nutrition and Dietetics Unit)Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Human Nutrition and Dietetics Unit)This study assessed the magnitude of hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) and cognitive deficits of 130 school-aged children (6–13 years old) living in three selected orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana. Sociodemographic data assessment, anthropometric assessment (BMI for age and height for age), dietary assessment (3-day repeated 24-hour dietary recall), urinary iodine level assessment, and cognitive performance assessment (Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices) were performed. Boys formed 50.8% of the study population, while girls formed 49.2%. The median age of participants was 10.50 years. About 12.3%, 7%, and 10.0% of participants were stunted, thin, and overweight/obese, respectively. The prevalence of mild iodine deficiency (i.e., 50–99 μg/L) was 16.2%. Iodine deficiency was significantly higher (23.6%) in participants who had lived for at least 7 years in the orphanage compared to those who had lived less than 7 years (10.7%) (p=0.047). About 17% of the participants performed poorly (<50%) on the cognition test. Mean cognition test scores were significantly different among the orphanages (p=0.027). The majority of participants, 89.2%, 54.6%, 76.9%, and 77.7%, had adequate intake of iron, zinc, vitamin C, and folate, respectively, whereas intake of vitamins A and B12 was inadequate for the majority of participants (90.8% and 50.8%, respectively). There was no significant correlation between micronutrient intake and cognitive performance. However, mean cognition test scores were significantly different between participants with adequate and inadequate iron and vitamin A intake (p=0.007 and p<0.001, respectively). The findings of this study warrant a closer look at nutritional intakes in orphanages to improve hidden hunger and cognitive performance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9684785 |
| spellingShingle | Marina Tandoh Mary Asamoah The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana Advances in Public Health |
| title | The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_full | The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_short | The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana |
| title_sort | magnitude of hidden hunger and cognitive deficits among children living in orphanages in kumasi ghana |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9684785 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marinatandoh themagnitudeofhiddenhungerandcognitivedeficitsamongchildrenlivinginorphanagesinkumasighana AT maryasamoah themagnitudeofhiddenhungerandcognitivedeficitsamongchildrenlivinginorphanagesinkumasighana AT marinatandoh magnitudeofhiddenhungerandcognitivedeficitsamongchildrenlivinginorphanagesinkumasighana AT maryasamoah magnitudeofhiddenhungerandcognitivedeficitsamongchildrenlivinginorphanagesinkumasighana |