Nutrition among Older Adults in Africa: the Situation at the Beginning of the Millenium

Abstract

Most Africans enter old age after a lifetime of poverty and deprivation, poor access to health care and a diet that is usually inadequate in quantity and quality. However, nutrition interventions in African countries are directed primarily toward infants and young children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. This situational analysis focuses on two key areas to identify priorities for future research and policy development: the nutritional status of older Africans and determinants of undernutrition. Based on the scant evidence available, the prevalence of undernutrition is high in older African men (9.5-36.1%) and women (13.1-27%); however, in some urban areas there is evidence that older adults are experiencing the nutrition transition. Information on micronutrient status is sparse, yet it appears that anemia related to suboptimal folate status is a particular problem. Important determinants of poor nutritional status in the elderly in the African context include inadequate household food security, war and famine, and the indirect impact of HIV infection and AIDS. The rapidly increasing size of the older population, combined with their increased burden of care-giving responsibilities and severe socioeconomic hardship, indicates an urgent need for increased attention to this group, including applied research on nutrition problems and the development and evaluation of nutrition interventions.

Psychosocial health challenges of the elderly in Nigeria: a narrative review

“…26 South African elderly tend to be community residents, living in multiple generational family households, due to limited institutionalized care. 27 However, unlike Nigerian elderly, South African elderly do receive financial support through the nationalized pension system. 27 Thus, one observed pathway to stimulate initiatives focusing on active aging and optimal psychosocial health status for elderly can include the use of home-based, self-care guidelines.…”

“…27 However, unlike Nigerian elderly, South African elderly do receive financial support through the nationalized pension system. 27 Thus, one observed pathway to stimulate initiatives focusing on active aging and optimal psychosocial health status for elderly can include the use of home-based, self-care guidelines. 26 As such, in both Nigeria and South Africa, challenges related to population aging, such as psychosocial health status, remain a significant priority for future research and policy development.…”

Micronutrient dilution associated with added sugar intake in elderly black South African women

“…This group is at high risk of having a poor micronutrient status due to inadequate household food security (Charlton & Rose, 2001), deficient dietary intakes (Johnson & van der Westhuizen, 1992;Bester et al, 1993;) and lack of financial provision for old age (Ferreira et al, 1992). Sugar is a cheap commodity, which is consumed in relatively large amounts in black children in the country (Labadarios et al, 2000).…”

Nutritional and oral health status of an elderly population in Nairobi

“…other factors contributing significantly to the nutritional status included income control, gender, tooth mobility, caries experience and the following risk factors: poor manual dexterity, physical disability, alcoholism, tobacco use, low budget for food, recent injury, and poor eyesight (table 7). studies have shown that old age for most africans is normally associated with poor access to health care and a diet that is usually inadequate in quantity and quality (20). nutrition interventions in africa have however focussed on children and pregnant/lactating women leaving out old people who are not considered as a priority group.…”