WEEK 3: Child nutrition and malnutrition

Question 1

What is malnutrition?

Answer 1

undernutrition and overnutrition

Question 2

State the characteristics of under nutrition

Answer 2

*Protein deficiency malnutrition
* micro nutrient deficiencies
*Stunting
*Thinness/ wasting
*Intrauterine growth restriction resulting in low birth weight
* Underweight

Question 3

NOTE; Most children with malnutrition live in Africa and Asia

Question 4

Define STUNTING ,WASTING and OVERWEIGHT

Answer 4

STUNTING; a child who is too short for his/ her age ( below/minus 2 standard deviations)
WASTING: a child who is too thin for his or her height
OVERWEIGHT:A child too heavy for his or her height

Question 4

Define the following terms:
1. Nutrition
2.Nutrients
3.Essential nutrients
4.Non essential nutrients

Answer 4

1. the science of food and its relationship to health
   2.Chemicals in food that are used by the body for growth, maintenance and energy
   3.cannot be synthesized by the body and thus must be derived from diet (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals)
   4.the body is able to synthesize them from other compounds, although some may be derived from diet
   (biotin, cholesterol, vitamin K, vitamin D)

NOTE:Dietary fibers are not essential nutrients

Question 5

What is hunger?

Answer 5

physiological state when food not able to meet energy needs

Question 6

What is under nutrition?

Answer 6

A deficiency of nutrients (malnourished)

Question 7

State the immediate causes of malnutrition

Answer 7

infection
inadequate dietary intake

Question 8

State the underlying causes of malnutrition

Answer 8

*Inadequate household food security
*inadequate maternal and child care
*inadequate access to water, sanitation and health services

Question 9

State the underlying causes of malnutrition

Answer 9

*Inadequate household food security
*inadequate maternal and child care
*inadequate access to water, sanitation and health services

Question 10

State the 6 P,s determinants of malnutrition

Answer 10

*Population
*Production
*Preservation
*Politics
*Pathology
*Poverty

Question 11

What is nutrition-infection synergism?

Answer 11

The fact that nutrition helps in the development of the immune system, therefore low nutrition results in poor protection which results in one being susceptible to infections and diseases

Question 12

State the ways of measuring nutrition in children

Answer 12

*Weight
*Height
*Head circumference
*Mid upper arm circumference

Question 13

State the WHO status-nutritional assessment and what the are used to detect.

Answer 13

*Weigh for height: overweight, obesity, wasting
*Height for Age:stunting
*Weight for age: Underweight

Question 14

State the specific micronutrients required for child growth

Answer 14

*Vitamin A is needed for good vision, immunity, and healthy skin (night blindness), xerophthalmia

*Vitamin B, B1, B2, B6 : Help in utilisation of energy contained in foods

*Vitamin B12: have a role in production of red blood cells

• Vitamin Dis required to form bone, healthy immune function, and functions like a hormone throughout the body (rickets)

*Vitamin K: for formation of clotting factors
*Iron (anemia)
*Iodine (goiter), brain damage

Question 15

State the disadvantages of artificial feeding

Answer 15

*interferes with bonding of mother and child
*more diarrhea due to cleanliness issues
*more allergy and milk intolerance
*increased risk of some chronic diseases (obesity, anemia, lower scores on intelligence test,)
* Mother may become pregnant sooner
*increased risk of anemia, ovarian cancer and breast cancer in mother

Question 16

State the disadvantages of imported food

Answer 16

*issues of storage and safety
*Increased spending on logistics, transportation, staff and set up of distribution
*bulk nutrition value may be higher
*Costly and potentially not to be culturally accepted

Question 17

Describe the public health interventions on malnutrition.

Answer 17

*Maternal micronutrient supplementation with calcium and balanced protein supplements

*Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 mo, continued with appropriate complementary foods until at least 2 YOA

*Vit A supplementation for postpartum women and children U5

*Fe/folate for anemia (though HARD to reliably take tabs)

*Zinc for diarrhea and measles episodes, and burns in children12-60 months of age

*Universal salt iodination

*Supplementary home and/or community-based feeding for moderate malnutrition

*Recognition and management of acute malnutrition

Question 18

What is Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) ?

Answer 18

Home-based therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe malnutrition

Question 19

Outline INGREDIENTS contained in RUTF?

Answer 19

Milk powder
Peanut Paste
Oil (palm oil with added Vit A)
Sugar
Vitamin Mineral Mix

Question 20

Outline the advantages of using RUTF.

Answer 20

*Easy to feed a child RUTF
Few spoons at a time, multiple times a day
Continue to breastfeed (or give clean water)

*No cooking required

*No special storage – doesn’t spoil easily

*Continue nursing

*Child can go home with supply

*Follows up in 1 to 2 weeks

*All recovery done at home

*No family separation

*No social isolation

*Can be followed up in outpatient clinic/feeding center

Question 21

Nutrition doesn’t improve in a vacuum…
State other factors that complement good nutrition.

Answer 21

• Water and sanitation

*Maternal mental health, child development, family structure

*Access to health care, family planning

*Education, pro-family social services

*Civil society, food security, famine

*NUTRITION TRANSITION