IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i20p10691-d654326.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Caregivers’ Knowledge and Food Accessibility Contributes to Childhood Malnutrition: A Case Study of Dora Nginza Hospital, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Pamela Clarke

    (Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

  • Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma

    (Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

  • Ayuk Betrand Tambe

    (Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

  • Liana Steenkamp

    (Research Associate at the HIV & AIDS Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, Qgeberha 6000, South Africa)

  • Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane

    (Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 8000, South Africa)

Abstract

Amongst the problems facing South Africa today are malnutrition and food insecurity, and there is a need for interventions and innovative strategies to address these. The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of caregivers’ knowledge of nutrition and household food security among children aged 0 to 60 months. A cross-sectional study design was applied using a quantitative approach. A convenience sample ( n = 184) of caregiver–child pairs (for children 0 to 60 months) from the Dora Nginza Hospital Paediatric Outpatient Department was used. A structured questionnaire was applied to collect data on socio-economic factors, health status, household food security, and caregivers’ knowledge. In addition, interviews were conducted, and anthropometric measurements of children were taken to determine their nutritional status. The results indicate that most caregivers were female, and more than half completed high school, yet almost 75% were unemployed. Most of the caregivers (58.2%) were either overweight or obese. The results also show that only 33.2% of households were food secure, 29.3% were at risk of hunger, and 37.5% experienced hunger. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children in the study was high. A significant, slightly positive correlation was found between the body mass index of the caregiver and height for age. Poor socio-economic status and food inaccessibility were identified as possible underlying contributing factors to malnutrition, contributing to food insecurity and therefore poor dietary intake.

Suggested Citation

  • Pamela Clarke & Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma & Ayuk Betrand Tambe & Liana Steenkamp & Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane, 2021. "Caregivers’ Knowledge and Food Accessibility Contributes to Childhood Malnutrition: A Case Study of Dora Nginza Hospital, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-18, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10691-:d:654326
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10691/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10691/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mthokozisi K. Zuma & Unathi Kolanisi & Albert T. Modi, 2018. "The Potential of Integrating Provitamin A-Biofortified Maize in Smallholder Farming Systems to Reduce Malnourishment in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Mbalenhle Mkhize & Melusi Sibanda, 2020. "A Review of Selected Studies on the Factors Associated with the Nutrition Status of Children Under the Age of Five Years in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-26, October.
    3. Chakona, Gamuchirai & Shackleton, Charlie M., 2019. "Food insecurity in South Africa: To what extent can social grants and consumption of wild foods eradicate hunger?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 87-94.
    4. Kedir T. Roba & Thomas P. O’Connor & Nora M. O’Brien & Chanyalew S. Aweke & Zenebe A. Kahsay & Nick Chisholm & Edward Lahiff, 2019. "Seasonal variations in household food insecurity and dietary diversity and their association with maternal and child nutritional status in rural Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(3), pages 651-664, June.
    5. Fahmida Dil Farzana & Ahmed Shafiqur Rahman & Sabiha Sultana & Mohammad Jyoti Raihan & Md Ahshanul Haque & Jillian L Waid & Nuzhat Choudhury & Tahmeed Ahmed, 2017. "Coping strategies related to food insecurity at the household level in Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Government of India, 2017. "National Health Policy 2017," Working Papers id:11664, eSocialSciences.
    7. William Pickett & Valerie Michaelson & Colleen Davison, 2015. "Beyond nutrition: hunger and its impact on the health of young Canadians," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(5), pages 527-538, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yonas T. Bahta, 2022. "Nexus between Coping Strategies and Households’ Agricultural Drought Resilience to Food Insecurity in South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Tajul Masron & Mduduzi Biyase & Talent Zwane & Thomas Udimal & Frederich Kirsten, 2023. "Ecological footprint and population health outcomes: an analysis of E7 countries," Economics Working Papers edwrg-07-2023, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, revised 2023.
    3. G. Kent Fellows & Daniel J. Dutton & Aidan Hollis, 2018. "Making Sure Orphan Drugs Don’t Get Left Behind," SPP Communique, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, vol. 10(6), August.
    4. Shawhan, Daniel L. & Picciano, Paul D., 2019. "Costs and benefits of saving unprofitable generators: A simulation case study for US coal and nuclear power plants," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 383-400.
    5. Richard Isralowitz & Mor Yehudai & Daichi Sugawara & Akihiro Masuyama & Shai-li Romem Porat & Adi Dagan & Alexander Reznik, 2022. "Economic Impact on Health and Well-Being: Comparative Study of Israeli and Japanese University “Help” Profession Students," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-11, November.
    6. Lusanda Ncisana & Vafana Attraction Ntuli & Nonhle Tracey Sibisi & Mmapake F. Masha & Mdumo S. J. Mboweni & Moyahabo Anna Satekge & Wonga Ntilini & Ntuthuko Raphael Mkhize & Suresh K. Singh, 2023. "A Comparative Study of Teaching Approaches in Agro-Ecology: An Investigation of 10th-Grade Agricultural Sciences Learners in Selected Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-9, February.
    7. Shu Yan & Lizi Pan & Yan Lu & Juan Chen & Ting Zhang & Dongzi Xu & Zhaolian Ouyang, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Drug Supply in China: A Bibliometric Analysis of Drug Reform Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Liang-Chung Huang & Wu-Fu Chung & Shih-Wei Liu & Jau-Ching Wu & Li-Fu Chen & Yu-Chun Chen, 2019. "Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000–2010," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Masoud Yazdanpanah & Maryam Tajeri Moghadam & Moslem Savari & Tahereh Zobeidi & Stefan Sieber & Katharina Löhr, 2021. "The Impact of Livelihood Assets on the Food Security of Farmers in Southern Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Bozena Wielgoszewska & Alex Bryson & Monica Costa-Dias & Francesca Foliano & Heather Joshi & David Wilkinson, 2021. "Exploring the Reasons for Labour Market Gender Inequality a Year into the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the UK Cohort Studies," DoQSS Working Papers 21-23, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    11. Shi, Wunan & Wouters, Olivier J. & Liu, Gordon & Mossialos, Elias & Yang, Xiuyun, 2020. "Association between provincial income levels and drug prices in China over the period 2010–2017," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    12. Anshul Kastor & Sanjay K Mohanty, 2018. "Disease-specific out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure on hospitalization in India: Do Indian households face distress health financing?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Maren Radeny & Elizaphan J. O. Rao & Maurice Juma Ogada & John W. Recha & Dawit Solomon, 2022. "Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1511-1535, December.
    14. Francesco Bogliacino & Rafael Charris & Camilo Gómez & Felipe Montealegre & Cristiano Codagnone, 2021. "Expert endorsement and the legitimacy of public policy. Evidence from Covid19 mitigation strategies," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3-4), pages 394-415, April.
    15. Nkechi S. Owoo, 2021. "Demographic considerations and food security in Nigeria," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 23(1), pages 128-167, June.
    16. Katie Adamek & Sarah Bardin & So O'Neil & Dara Lee Luca, "undated". "Accelerating Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Phillips County, Arkansas and Coahoma County, Mississippi," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 7fda86cbb1bf4303a84f466e8, Mathematica Policy Research.
    17. Kellen J. Karimi & Aijaz Ahmad & Adriano Duse & Mutuku Mwanthi & Richard Ayah, 2022. "Prevalence of Antibiotic Use and Disposal at Household Level in Informal Settlements of Kisumu, Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane & Ayuk Betrand Tambe, 2024. "The Influence of Household and Community Food Environments on Food Insecurity in Limpopo Province, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-23, January.
    19. ADEBOLA, Olukemi Grace, 2020. "Universal Health Coverage In Nigeria And Its Determinants: The Case Of National Health Insurance Scheme," Academic Review of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bursa Teknik Üniversitesi, vol. 3(1), pages 97-111.
    20. Signorelli, C. & Odone, A. & Oradini-Alacreu, A. & Pelissero, G., 2020. "Universal Health Coverage in Italy: lights and shades of the Italian National Health Service which celebrated its 40th anniversary," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 69-74.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10691-:d:654326. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.