8.6% of Children Found Underweight - NANA Report

According to the National Nutrition Agency report on food value availability in the urban areas of Banjul and Kanifing Municipality released most months ago has inducted that, over all, 8.6% of the children were found to be overweight there is no significant differences (p=0.109 in the prevalence of underweight a comparism of two species, However a smaller propoline of females 6.7% are underweight compare to 10.5% of males.

The report indicated that the prevalence of underweight was the highest among the single households 20% followed by the polygamous 10.8% the lowest rate was among monogamous family household 7.8% however there was no significant differences between the marital statues.

“The prevalence of underweight for household classified as having a less diversified a diets was 12.6% households with mild diversified diets, the prevalence of underweight was 7.3% even though the tendency is logical that the mere varied the diet is the lesser the prevalence of malnutrition, there was no statistical difference in the prevalence of underweight”. The report stated.

The report further revealed that in using MUAS to access under nutrition, 2.8% of the children were found to be under weight also, there is no significant different when the two sexes are segregated. In both males and females 2.8% are undernourished.

The report stated factors associated with malnutrition which are the different variables collected to not seen to have an effect an wasting as none of the P values were significant. The variables are sex of heads of house hold marital status, demographic Dependency, economic Dependency, size of household, duration of stay in Banjul. Food stock, wealth index possession of animals food insecurity and food diversity