Abstract
In South Africa, both under- and over-nutrition exist. At national level, more than half of the females are either overweight or obese, while children suffer from under-nutrition. Childhood malnutrition starts early in life, with the first two years being the most vulnerable period. Chronic malnutrition (as indicated by the prevalence of stunting) is a bigger problem than acute malnutrition (as indicated by the prevalence of wasting). Stunted children have a higher risk for being overweight. At national level, 33.3% of preschool children are vitamin A deficient, 21.4% are anaemic and 5.0% suffer from iron deficiency anaemia. Prevalence figures for childhood malnutrition differ between and within provinces. South African children consume a maizebased diet that is inadequate in energy and of low nutrient density. Inadequate intake of micronutrients starts during infancy. Strategies to address micronutrient malnutrition include high-dose vitamin A supplementation, food fortification, biofortification and dietary diversification. The availability of a greater variety of nutritious foods at community and household level can be increased through mixed cropping, the introduction of new crops, the promotion of underexploited traditional food crops, and home-gardens. A broad multifaceted comprehensive health intervention programme is needed to address childhood malnutrition.Keywords: nutritional status, adults, children, dietary diversification, South Africa
Highlights
Malnutrition includes both under-nutrition and over-nutrition (Fig. 1)
The most significant currently available national data on nutritional status of South African children is from the South African vitamin A Consultative Group (SAVACG) study from 1994 (Labadarios et al, 1995) and the National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) of 1999 (Labadarios et al, 2000)
A report by Steyn et al (2006a) stated that westernised eating patterns are reflected by the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the South African adult and child population, despite the fact that stunting and chronic energy deficiency affect a large number of infants and children
Summary
Malnutrition includes both under-nutrition and over-nutrition (Fig. 1). Over-nutrition refers to excessive intake of energy and/ or macronutrients. Under-nutrition can be divided into proteinenergy-malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Anthropometric status of adults and children, childhood micronutrient malnutrition and dietary intake of children within South Africa are discussed. The purpose is not to exhaust all nutritional studies published, but to give a general overview of the prevalence of malnutrition in South Africa, and the consequences thereof. Strategies to address micronutrient malnutrition are discussed, with the focus on dietary diversification because of its relevance to dietary intervention with leafy vegetables. Nutritional status can be assessed by dietary, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical methods. A combination of methods should be used when assessing nutritional status using standardised techniques. Dietary intake can be measured either quantitatively (by describing intake in terms of energy and nutrients) or qualitatively (by describing intake in terms of foods). Presented at the International Symposium on the Nutritional Value and Water Use of Indigenous Crops for Improved Livelihoods held on 19 and 20 September 2006 at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa
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