Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Nutritional Education Program for Infants

CONTEXT AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study focused on the use of a nutritional education program to elevate the birthweight of infants born to a sample of already pregnant Nigerian females. However, before going into the study, it is necessary to show that there is indeed a need for such a program in Nigeria; this because it has been recognized in recent years that birthweight and growth standards based on children of European origin or ancestry may not be appropriate in evaluating the birthweight and growth of children of different ethnic origin (Wanke, 1992). Knowledge of what is a normal birthweight as well as what is normal growth is important to health workers, particularly those concerned with implementing programs of nutrition education in developing countries.

One study which does establish that birthweight is generally lower in Nigeria was conducted by Wanke (1980), who examined the birthweights of Nigerian infants by gathering anthropometric growth data on exactly-known-age Hausa children from birth to 17 years for boys and to age 13 for girls. Data were collected for weight, height, sitting height, biacromial and biiliac widths, calf and upper arm circumferences, triceps skinfolds and mid-arm muscle circumferences. The findings were then compared to reported values for other Nigerians, West Africans, Afro-Americans and British boys and girls.

The Hausa were found to have a mean birthweight decidedly below the British but similar to other West Africans and Afro-Americans. Birthweights of babies from villages (2.91 kg) were, however, significantly lower than the weights of babies from town (3.04 kg).

During the first three months the growth of Hausa town babies exceeded that of the British. While at birth the Hausa babies are at about the British 25th centile for both weight and length, and at 3 months of age they equaled or exceeded the British 50th centile.

Growth slowed considerably...

Page 1 of 39 Next >

More on Nutritional Education Program for Infants...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Nutritional Education Program for Infants. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 05:24, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1684338.html