Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Background: Globally, there is evidence that three micronutrients deficiencies are of public health concern among children. They are vitamin A, iodine and iron deficiencies. Communities particularly affected are those in situations where poverty, unemployment, civil unrest, war and exploitation rema...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2016-07-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/922 |
| _version_ | 1828739200536543232 |
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| author | Selekane A. Motadi Vanessa Mbhatsani Kulani O. Shilote |
| author_facet | Selekane A. Motadi Vanessa Mbhatsani Kulani O. Shilote |
| author_sort | Selekane A. Motadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Globally, there is evidence that three micronutrients deficiencies are of public health concern among children. They are vitamin A, iodine and iron deficiencies. Communities particularly affected are those in situations where poverty, unemployment, civil unrest, war and exploitation remain endemic. Malnutrition is an impediment to productivity, economic growth and poverty eradication. It is estimated that 32% of the global burden would be removed by eliminating malnutrition, including micronutrients deficiencies.
Setting: The study was carried out in NkowaNkowa township of Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Aim: The main objective was to determine the women’s knowledge on food fortification.
Methods: The study design was descriptive. The snowballing method was used to identify women of child-bearing age. Data were collected from 120 participants using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic, general questions on women’s knowledge on food fortification. The questionnaire was administered by the researcher using the local language Xitsonga.
Results: The findings of the study revealed that a majority of 204 (57.0%) of the participants were able to define food fortification correctly while 257 (72.0%) of the participants knew which foods are fortified as well as the benefits of a food fortification programme. The majority (252 [70.0%]) of the participants knew that maize meal is one of the food vehicle used for fortification in South Africa.
Conclusion: Most of the questions were answered correctly by more than 50.0% of the participants. The researcher deduced that the study participants are knowledgeable about food fortification based on the response given in relation to the programme. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:18:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed721490984f467fbf776eb60935145d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:18:27Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed721490984f467fbf776eb60935145d2022-12-22T03:10:52ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362016-07-0182e1e510.4102/phcfm.v8i2.922404Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South AfricaSelekane A. Motadi0Vanessa Mbhatsani1Kulani O. Shilote2Department of Nutrition, University of VendaDepartment of Nutrition, University of VendaDepartment of Nutrition, University of VendaBackground: Globally, there is evidence that three micronutrients deficiencies are of public health concern among children. They are vitamin A, iodine and iron deficiencies. Communities particularly affected are those in situations where poverty, unemployment, civil unrest, war and exploitation remain endemic. Malnutrition is an impediment to productivity, economic growth and poverty eradication. It is estimated that 32% of the global burden would be removed by eliminating malnutrition, including micronutrients deficiencies. Setting: The study was carried out in NkowaNkowa township of Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Aim: The main objective was to determine the women’s knowledge on food fortification. Methods: The study design was descriptive. The snowballing method was used to identify women of child-bearing age. Data were collected from 120 participants using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic, general questions on women’s knowledge on food fortification. The questionnaire was administered by the researcher using the local language Xitsonga. Results: The findings of the study revealed that a majority of 204 (57.0%) of the participants were able to define food fortification correctly while 257 (72.0%) of the participants knew which foods are fortified as well as the benefits of a food fortification programme. The majority (252 [70.0%]) of the participants knew that maize meal is one of the food vehicle used for fortification in South Africa. Conclusion: Most of the questions were answered correctly by more than 50.0% of the participants. The researcher deduced that the study participants are knowledgeable about food fortification based on the response given in relation to the programme.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/922knowledgefood fortificationchild bearing age |
| spellingShingle | Selekane A. Motadi Vanessa Mbhatsani Kulani O. Shilote Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine knowledge food fortification child bearing age |
| title | Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full | Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_short | Food fortification knowledge in women of child-bearing age at Nkowankowa township in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | food fortification knowledge in women of child bearing age at nkowankowa township in mopani district limpopo province south africa |
| topic | knowledge food fortification child bearing age |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/922 |
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