Abstract
Background: Malnutrition due to poor feeding habits, is still a serious public health issue in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the dietary patterns and nutritional status of women of childbearing age in various geographical settings in Cameroon so as to propose intervention strategies. Methods: In a cross sectional study conducted from January 2014 to August 2015, women aged 14 - 49 years were randomly selected from the capital city Yaounde and four regions of Cameroon. Anthropometric measures were collected for nutritional status assessment. Data on diet habits and socio-demographic parameters were collected. Results: 608 women of reproductive age with average age 34.68 ± 0.39 years made up the study. Dietary patterns assessment revealed that, most study participants had a frequent intake of carbohydrate rich foods and fats and oils rich foods; but an infrequent intake of protein rich foods and vitamin and minerals rich foods in a week. Nutritional status assessment revealed that, 2.1% were underweight, 28.6% had a normal weight, 30.8% overweight, and 38.5% obese. The grass field regions presented the highest prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity. Higher malnutrition levels were linked to low intakes of pulses and beans; milk and dairy products; vegetables and fruits food groups. Conclusion: Women of the study population had an unhealthy dietary pattern and a poor nutritional status. Therefore, strategies such as nutritional education are warranted and should be age and region specific, so as to target specific groups of women and ensure adequate nutritional status and health.
Highlights
Maternal nutrition status prior to conception is believed to affect embryonic and fetal growth [1]; and pre-pregnancy weight is a common indicator of a woman’s nutritional status
This study revealed that in general, women of childbearing age of the study had an unhealthy dietary pattern mostly frequent in carbohydrate rich foods such as cereals and tubers, and foods rich in fats and oils but infrequent in proteins rich foods, and vitamins and minerals rich foods such as vegetables and fruits
High rates of overweight and obesity were observed and were found to increase with age and these rates were higher in some regions compared to other regions suggesting that nutrition interventions should be age and region specific
Summary
Maternal nutrition status prior to conception is believed to affect embryonic and fetal growth [1]; and pre-pregnancy weight is a common indicator of a woman’s nutritional status. With the increasing prevalence of obesity among women of childbearing age in Cameroon [14], it was important to carry out this study which aimed at assessing the preconception dietary consumption patterns, nutritional status and determinants of dietary patterns and nutritional status of childbearing age women in Cameroon This is in order to provide adequate dietary advices in preconception specific to these groups of Cameroonian women, so as to prevent malnutrition; and adverse malnutrition pre-pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion: Women of the study population had an unhealthy dietary pattern and a poor nutritional status Strategies such as nutritional education are warranted and should be age and region specific, so as to target specific groups of women and ensure adequate nutritional status and health
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