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.

Assessing Land Use and Land Cover Change and Farmers’ Perceptions of Deforestation and Land Degradation in South-West Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

“…In recent decades, the south-east and south-west regions were the most exposed to deforestation due to the existence of important pioneer fronts at the limits of forest massifs [10]. As a result, the south-west region, one of the main cocoa supply zones in the world, has faced dramatic deforestation in the last three decades [11], food and nutrition insecurity [12], pests and epidemics, and a loss of biodiversity [7, 13,14]. This region has attracted hundreds of thousands of migrants from other parts of the country and neighbouring countries, resulting in a high population density [15].…”

Agroforestry for improved food security: A case study in a cocoa-producing zone in Côte d'Ivoire

“…On the other hand, the investigated foods had lower protein content than the recommended daily allowances 18 , indicating that other protein sources should be consumed by the studied population during the day. The poor protein content in the studied foods may also explain the high malnutrition rates observed in children in cocoa-producing areas of Côte d'Ivoire 4,5 . Combining rice-based menus, which exhibited the highest protein contents in the present study, with protein-rich foods such as eggs, sh, and beans can help prevent certain diseases such as marasmus and correct malnutrition observed in children in cocoa-producing areas of Côte d'Ivoire.…”

“…Moreover, high malnutrition rates were found among children in cocoa-producing zones of Côte d'Ivoire, with rates of 48.7% 4 and 39% 5 . Food insecurity exacerbates malnutrition, which is a public health problem in Côte d'Ivoire.…”