Food insecurity, social welfare and low birth weight: Implications for childhood malnutrition in an urban Eastern Cape Province township

Background. Limited information is available regarding the impact of food insecurity, low birth weight (LBW) and the protective effect of the child support grant (CSG) on malnutrition in South Africa (SA).Objectives. To describe malnutrition in the context of food insecurity, CSG and LBW history among children younger than 24 months from an underprivileged urban settlement in the Eastern Cape Province of SA.Methods. A descriptive study using a cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a non-probability sample of 400 young children from October 2015 to February 2016. Inferential statistics included t-tests to compare anthropometric data from different birth weight categories and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to allow for the effect of covariates.Results. Of the sample, 9% were stunted, 1% were wasted, 16% were overweight, 23% were food secure, 47% were at risk of hunger, and 31% were classified as hungry. LBW history was significantly associated with stunting but not with wasting. CSG holders and 'hungry'households' children had significantly lower mean height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) than non-CSG holders and food-secure households.Despite these apparent associations, when LBW is considered as a covariate, it becomesapparent that neither the CSG nor CCHIP category is significantly related to any of the anthropometric indicators. Conclusion. The Department of Health has to recognise the significant impact of LBW on the prevalence of stunting and thus the need to prioritise antenatal care. Policymakers could aim to make the CSG available to mothers as close after birth as possible, or during pregnancy,in order to be more effective in reducing the long-term effects of LBW

Added Sugar and Dietary Sodium Intake from Purchased Fast Food; Confectionery; Sweetened Beverages and Snacks among Sowetan Adolescents

Background. Greater availability and accessibility of fast foods; sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks in urban South Africa may be contributing to the burgeoning obesity epidemic in adolescents. Objectives. To determine the consumption of purchased foods and drinks among a cohort of urban adolescents; and to estimate the added sugar and dietary sodium intake from these foods and beverages.Methods. Participants (N=1 451; 49.6 male; mean 17.7 years of age) completed interviewer-assisted questionnaires on dietary intake practices pertaining to food choices in the home; school and community. The consumption of fast foods; sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks was determined and the average added sugar and sodium intakes were estimated.Results. The median (interquartile range) intake of fast foods was 11 (7 - 16) items/week in both sexes. Sweetened beverages were consumed 8 (5 - 11) and 10 (6 - 11) times/week by males and females; respectively (p0.02). Females consumed confectionery more often than males (13 (9 - 17) and 11 (8 - 15) items/week; respectively; p0.01). Seven (5 - 10) salty snack items/week were consumed by both sexes. Overall; mean added sugar intake from these purchased food items was estimated at 561.6 g/week for males and 485.3 g/week for females; respectively (p0.05). Conclusion. In this study; males and females consumed on average three times the recommended daily intake of added sugar; and more than half of the recommended daily salt intake from these purchased foods alone. These dietary patterns during adolescence may exacerbate the risk of obesity and hypertension in later adult life