Assessment of Cocoa Producers’ Children Nutritional Status in the Nawa Region, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Foods are important as they provide nutrients for human being. However, in the world and particularly in Africa, several people suffer of under nutrition due to a lack of proteins, energy and micronutrients. Malnutrition affects the agricultural sector unfortunately. A survey was conducted in 2015 among cocoa producers’ households from 11 localities in the Nawa region which is the largest cocoa production region of Côte d’Ivoire. Anthropometric measurements were collected on 218 children between 6 and 59 months old and the data were used to calculate the following indices used to assess nutritional status: weight-for-height, height-for-age and weight-for-age. The results showed that global acute malnutrition prevalence was 17.5% (95% Confidence interval (CI): 13.0, 23.1%), with 12.4% (95% CI: 8.7, 17.5%) for the moderate form and 5.1% (95% CI: 2.9, 8.8%) for the severe one. Global chronic malnutrition prevalence was about 39% (95% CI: 32.8, 45.6%) and the moderate and the severe forms were respectively 22% (95% CI: 17, 28%) and 17% (95% CI: 12.6, 22.5%). Underweight prevalence was 25.2% (95% CI: 19.9, 31.4%) with 17% (95% CI: 12.6, 22.5%) for moderate underweight and 8.3% (95% CI: 5.3, 12.7%) for severe underweight. There were any statistical difference between boys and girls. The distribution curves of index are offset from the reference curve for all malnutrition forms. Children among 6-17 months were generally affected by acute malnutrition while chronic malnutrition concerned children aged from 18 to 53 months. Cocoa producers’ children are affected by malnutrition and the prevalence is important, indicating a possible lack of food diversification