Özet:

Background: There is scarce information on the nutritional status of children of historically disadvantaged agri-business smallholders. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of children from historically disadvantaged agri-business families. Methodology: The study’s purposeful sample comprised of 263 agri-business households that generated an annual turnover of $11 811 - $39 370, and 327 children aged 5-14 years. A 3-day 24h dietary recall method was administered and questionnaires were used to assess the households’ socio-economic status, and the caregivers’ nutritional knowledge, and practices. Food models and Food finder III nutritional software were used to improve the accuracy of recorded food quantities. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 20, was used for statistical analyses. Results: Generally, the agri-business households had modest feeding practices. The majority of their households had a monthly non-farm income of $78.82 - $118.11 (32.9%), and monthly food expenditure of $55.20 - $70.87 (23.2%).The average annual farm income payable to each agri-business smallholder was $2 903.The mean food variety score was low at 23.431±7.89, while the mean dietary diversity score was debatably high at 7.82±4.53.The households’ non-farm income was positively highly correlated to food expenditure (p<0.01).In turn, food expenditure had a significant influence on food variety score (p<0.01) and dietary diversity score (p<0.05).The majority of children had normal weight-to-age (80.14%), normal height-to-age (90.7%) and normal body mass index-for-age Z-scores (56.57%).However, the risk of overweight, the actual overweight and obesity were a concern as they were evident among 36.39%, 6% and 8% of the children, respectively. Conclusion: The agri-business families consumed meals that were predominantly carbohydrates-based, and had low food variety score and debatably high dietary diversity score. The majority of children had normal anthropometric dimensions that were indicative of good nutritional status. However, overweight / obesity appeared a creeping problem than is stunting and wasting.

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