Abstract: Child malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries, and dietary diversity is one of the important determinants of undernutrition. Different nutrients are obtained from different food groups and to meet the requirement of recommended Dietary Allowances entitled as Dietary Diversity. The current review revealed that the nutrition status of children is directly related to the food groups consumed. Food diversity depends on many factors such as Socio-economic Status, education level, sex, and age of the subjects. The food group consumed and food items taken from each group were low in the low Socio-Economic Status (SES) subjects, rural areas, females, and less educated families, resulting in malnutrition among children of various countries. Low level of Dietary Diversity can be the reason for undernutrition in children worldwide, especially in developing countries. Many studies thus supported that Dietary Diversity and Food Variety can provide nutritional adequacy.

Keywords:  Food Variety, Dietary Diversity, Dietary Diversity Score, Nutritional adequacy, Micronutrient Deficiencies.

Abstract: Background & Objectives:Bahrain is reported to rank amongst the top 10 countries for diabetes prevalence worldwide. In particular, growing numbers of children are being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The objective of this study was to describe the dietary intake of Bahraini children with T1DM as compared to a sample of healthy counterparts and to determine whether the nutrient intakes of Bahraini children with T1DM meet the current recommendations.

Design & Setting:This was a case-control study. Dietary intake, estimated using a24-hour dietary recall, for the cases was gathered from the Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Unit at the Salmaniya Medical Complex and compared to the 24-hour recalls of children without diabetes recruited from Local Health Centers.

Patients & Methods: 50 children aged 6-12 years receiving a confirmed diagnosis of T1DM in the years 2009 and 2010 compared with 55 healthy comparators.

Results:Children with T1DM consumed significantly more calories than controls (p<0.001) and significantly more protein relative to their RDA (p<0.029). Both groups failed to meet the RDA values for dietary fiber and for Vitamin D. Sodium intakes were in excess of RDA values although no significant difference was observed between groups (p=0.403).

Conclusion:The diets of both children with and without T1DM were found to contain excess protein and sodium and inadequate fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Children with T1DM also appeared to consume excess energy and fat. There is a need to endorse existing dietary guidelines for children with T1DM.

Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), Children, Bahrain, Healthy diet.

Abstract:  Background: Apgar score is an established index of neonatal well-being and development. Nutrition during pregnancy is an accepted risk factor for neonatal low Apgar score.

Objective: To investigate the association between dietary diversity score and low Apgar score.

Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study. The study participants were 420 mothers who delivered and were attending the postnatal clinic at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital. Mothers’ dietary information during pregnancy was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. In reference to the FAOs women’s Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), the subjects were categorized into low, medium or high DDS. The primary outcome was Apgar score. Apgar scores < 5 were classified as low.

Results: The mean age (± standard deviation, SD) of subjects was 26.7 ± 5.7 years with a range of 17 to 45 years. The prevalence of low Apgar score among the study population was 16.9%. Majority of the study participants had a low DDS in relation to low Apgar score whereas 7.5% had high DDS. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the odds of low Apgar score in the low DDS group was three times higher than those who had high DDS (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR= 3.10, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.23-4.48).

Conclusion: Dietary diversity score during pregnancy was associated with a low Apgar score in the study area. The results of this study reinforce the significance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy in the study area.

Keywords:  Dietary diversity score, Apgar score, Pregnancy, Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Neonate.

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Abstract: Background: Good nutritional status is of paramount importance for a child’s physical, mental and social development after inter-uterine life.

Objective: Dietary pattern, anthropometric indices and developmental milestone of children aged 6-60 months in peri-urban communities were investigated.

Design: The children (236) were randomly selected from health centers and nursery schools in three selected communities. Data were collected with structured questionnaire and anthropometry. The questionnaire administered to the mothers of the children elicited information on their socioeconomic characteristics, dietary pattern and developmental milestones of the children. Anthropometric parameters of the children were measured using standard instruments and procedures. The mean length/height and weight of the children in relation to their ages were compared with WHO child growth standard. Data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 16.

Results: Less than 6% of the mothers introduced complementary food at 6 months, 31.4% introduced before 6 months and 63.2% after 7 months. Majority (97.5%) of the mothers enriched complementary foods with fish (73.7%), infant formular (72.9%), soybean powder (66.5%) and egg (64.0%). A total of 10.6% and 1.7% of the children were moderately and severely stunted, respectively while 4.7% of them had moderate wasting. Underweight was observed more among children within 6 – 24 months. The mean ages for sitting, crawling, standing with support and standing without support reported in this study were 6, 7, 8 and 10 months, respectively.

Conclusion: Scaling up actions on optimal complementary feeding of children would go a long way in improving their nutritional status and physical development.

Keywords:  Nutritional status, milestone, food consumption pattern, children, peri-urban Nigeria.

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