Seasonality affects dietary diversity of school-age children in northern Ghana

Abstract

Background and objectivesDietary diversity score (DDS) is relatively easy to measure and is shown to be a very useful indicator of the probability of adequate micronutrient intake. Dietary diversity, however, is usually assessed during a single period and little is known about the effect of seasonality on it. This study investigates whether dietary diversity is influenced by seasonality.MethodsTwo cross-sectional surveys were conducted in two different seasons—dry season (October 2010) and rainy season (May 2011) among the same school-age children (SAC) in two rural schools in northern Ghana. The study population consisted of 228 school-age children. A qualitative 24-hour dietary recall was conducted in both seasons. Based on 13 food groups, a score of 1 was given if a child consumed a food item belonging to a particular food group, else 0. Individual scores were aggregated into DDS for each child. Differences in mean DDS between seasons were compared using linear mixed model analysis.ResultsThe dietary pattern of the SAC was commonly plant foods with poor consumption of animal source foods. The mean DDS was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the rainy season (6.95 ± 0.55) compared to the dry season (6.44 ± 0.55) after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, occupation (household head and mother) and education of household head. The difference in mean DDS between dry and rainy seasons was mainly due to the difference in the consumption of Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables between the seasons. While vitamin A-rich fruits (64.0% vs. 0.9%; P < 0.0001) and vitamin A rich dark green leafy vegetables (52.6% vs. 23.3%, P < .0001) were consumed more during the rainy season than the dry season, more children consumed vitamin A-rich deep yellow, orange and red vegetables during the dry season than during the rainy season (73.7% vs. 36.4%, P <0.001).ConclusionSeasonality has an effect on DDS and may affect the quality of dietary intake of SAC; in such a context, it would be useful to measure DDS in different seasons. Since DDS is a proxy indicator of micronutrient intake, the difference in DDS may reflect in seasonal differences in dietary adequacy and further studies are needed to establish this.

Higher vegetable intake and vegetable variety is associated with a better self-reported health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in a cross-sectional survey of rural northern Ghanaian women in fertile age

“…Considering that our study population was rural with a general low socio-economic status reflected in their poor educational and occupational status, we assumed fruit consumption may be scarce and may also not differ between the women in fertile age. For instance, a recent study that examined the effect of seasonality on the dietary diversity of school-aged children in the study area found that the consumption of vitamin C-rich fruits was less than 2% in both the dry and raining seasons; in this study, the consumption of vitamin A-rich fruits was significantly higher in the rainy season compared to the dry season (64% vs 0.9%, P  = < 0.001), but was in part attributed the consumption of wild shea fruits ( Butyrospermum Parkii ) and mangoes, available only in the early part of the rainy season [40]. Overall, considering the lower fruit consumption and the seasonality association with it, vegetable intake perhaps remained the most critical exposure for the sampled population.…”

Socio‐cultural and economic determinants and consequences of adolescent undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in LLMICs: a systematic narrative review

“…Finally, the observed seasonal variations in micronutrient status were in part attributed to seasonal variation in the availability and access to food, notably, the micronutrient‐rich food. Several studies have indeed shown seasonality variations in dietary intake . The implication of the finding may be that interventions that aim to improve the nutritional status of adolescents in the context of LMICs need to recognize the role of seasonality on nutritional status to incorporate initiatives to prevent undesirable seasonal declines in nutrient intake and consequently nutritional status.…”

“…Several studies have indeed shown seasonality variations in dietary intake. [163][164][165][166] The implication of the finding may be that interventions that aim to improve the nutritional status of adolescents in the context of LMICs need to recognize the role of seasonality on nutritional status to incorporate initiatives to prevent undesirable seasonal declines in nutrient intake and consequently nutritional status.…”

Irrigation-nutrition linkages: Evidence from northern Ghana

“…Importantly, we find statistically and economically significant association between the consumption of meats and poultry, as well as milk and milk products, with households' access to irrigation. Underconsumption of animal-source-foods is common in Ghana across seasons, pointing to a high risk of micronutrient inadequacy, especially for vulnerable sub-populations like school-aged children (Abizari et al, 2017;Colecraft et al, 2006).…”

“…A study on school-aged children in Northern Ghana showed seasonal variations in dietary diversity, where dietary diversity was higher in the rainy season due to increased consumption of fruits and vegetables compared to the dry season (Abizari et al, 2017).…”