Contribution of dietary patterns and dietary diversity to the nutritional status of children under five years in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, South Africa

Food insecurity and malnutrition is a major problem in the sub-Saharan African region. The study aimed to determine the contribution of dietary patterns and dietary diversity on child nutritional status of children aged 0 to 60 months. A cross-sectional design was applied using a quantitative approach. A convenience sample (n=184) of children aged 0 to 60 months were included from the Dora Nginza Hospital (situated in Port Elizabeth in South Africa) and data was collected between May and July 2018. Primary caregivers provided informed consent for themselves and their children for participation. The researcher and trained assistants collected data using structured questionnaires which aimed at gathering information on socio-economic factors, health status, dietary patterns, and diversity. Child anthropometric measurements were performed on children following the World Health Organisation (WHO) standardised methods. Slightly more males (52.7%, n = 97) than females were included. The mean age of the children included was 20.21 months (SD = 17.1). Most were of African ethnicity (58.7%, n = 108). A total of 25.6% (n = 47) of the children were stunted, 19.8% (n = 25) were underweight for their age, 6.7% (n = 7) were classified as either moderate acute malnourished (3.9%) or (n =7) or severely acute malnourished (2.8%, n = 5), and 7.2% (n = 13) were overweight or obese. There was low or inadequate consumption of meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and the most consumed foods were soft porridge, margarine, potatoes, white bread and chips. About 91% of the children met the minimum dietary diversity score (>4 dietary diversity). The child’s dietary diversity score had a significantly positive relationship with weight for height, weight for age and mid-upper arm circumference, showing improved nutritional status when a more varied diet is eaten. Therefore, these findings confirm the importance of dietary diversity and dietary patterns to nutritional status of children under 60 months of age. Key words: anthropometry, underweight, overweight, malnutrition, caregivers, nutritional status, consumption, stunting, cross-sectional