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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 743-755
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Bioline Code: hs18092
Full paper language: English
Document type: Study
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, pp. 743-755
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Nutrition knowledge, dietary patterns and anthropometric indices of older persons in four peri-urban communities in Ga West municipality, Ghana
Agbozo, Faith; Amardi-Mfoafo, Joyce; Dwase, Helen & Ellahi, Basma
Abstract
Background: Older adults are vulnerable to malnutrition due to sociologic, physiologic and anatomical effects of ageing.
Objective: To investigate the influence of nutrition knowledge and dietary patterns on nutritional status of community-dwelling
ambulatory older adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved 120 elderly aged 60-70 years purposively selected from four peri-urban communities in Ga West municipality, Ghana. Nutrition knowledge was assessed using a structured questionnaire and dietary intakes
obtained using a standardized food frequency questionnaire. BMI from weight/height measurements was proxy for nutritional
status. Data was analyzed descriptively in SPSS. Associations were tested using correlation analyses (-1Results: 28% had adequate knowledge on geriatric nutrition. Dietary patterns were mostly fair (40%) or poor (53%). Bloating
(25%), constipation (18%), appetite loss (12%) and chewing difficulties (11%) affected intakes. Underweight was 10% while
21.7% were overweight or obese (16.6%). Positive insignificant corrections existed between knowledge and nutritional status
(r=0.261) and with diet quality (r=0.415). However, strong significant (p=0.027) positive correlation (r=0.699) existed between
diet quality and nutritional status.
Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge was adequate but dietary intake was poor and a quarter were malnourished. The associations
reaffirm that supporting the elderly to make healthy dietary choices and ensuring household food security is crucial to preventing
malnutrition.
Keywords
Dietary knowledge; food diversity; body mass index; elderly; geriatric nutrition.
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© Copyright 2018 - Agbozo et al.
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