Nutrition

2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

• Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices

• Micronutrient Intake and Anaemia

• Nutritional Status of Children

• Nutritional Status of Women

© Erberto Zani, Courtesy of Photoshare

Early Breastfeeding

• Provides a newborn with colostrum, a key supplement for the infant’s immune system.

• 52% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of life, and 82% within the first day.

• 18% of newborns received a prelacteal feed.

• 98% of infants are ever breastfed.

• 11% of infants under 6 months are bottle-fed.

Duration of BreastfeedingMedian duration of breastfeeding in months among children born in the last 3 years

How does Ghana Compare?

Median duration of any breastfeeding in months

Exclusive Breastfeeding

• Children who receive only breast milk are considered exclusively breastfed.

• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life, since breast milk contains all the nutrients that a baby needs.

• Antibodies in breast milk provide immunity to disease.

Exclusive Breastfeeding by Age

Age in months

Percent of children exclusively breastfed

Breastfeeding Status Under 6 Months

Complementary Foods

• Introduction of complementary foods before age 6 months is discouraged.

• After 6 months, complementary foods should be introduced.

• 17% of children under 6 months are already consuming solid or mushy food.

• 75% of children age 6-9 months consume solid or mushy food.

IYCF Practices

• The Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices (IYCF) recommended by WHO: – Breastfed children over 6 months should also receive 3

or more food groups, at least twice a day for infants 6-8 months and at least 3 times a day for breastfed children 9-23 months.

– Non-breastfed children should receive milk or milk products, in addition to 4 or more food groups, 4 times a day or more.

IYCF PracticesPercent of children 6-23 months

• Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices

• Micronutrient Intake and Anaemia

• Nutritional Status of Children

• Nutritional Status of Women

© Erberto Zani, Courtesy of Photoshare

Vitamin A and Iron IntakeAmong youngest child age 6-35

months living with his/her mother

Among children age 6-59 months

Vitamin A and Iron Intake among Mothers

Percent of women age 15-49

Prevalence of Anaemia among ChildrenPercent of children age 6-59 months with any anaemia

Prevalence of Anaemia among WomenPercent of women age 15-49 with any anaemia

• Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices

• Micronutrient Intake and Anaemia

• Nutritional Status of Children

• Nutritional Status of Women

© Erberto Zani, Courtesy of Photoshare

Nutritional Status of Children

Percent of children under 5

9

14

28

*Based on the new WHO Child Growth Standards

Children’s Stunting by Region

Percent of children under 5 stunted (too short for age)

Ghana28%

Northern32%

Volta27%

Ashanti27%

Brong Ahafo25%

Western27%

Eastern38%

Upper West25%

Central34%

Upper East36%

Greater Accra14%

• Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices

• Micronutrient Intake and Anaemia

• Nutritional Status of Children

• Nutritional Status of Women

© Erberto Zani, Courtesy of Photoshare

Nutritional Status of Women

Percent of women 15-49 by nutritional status

Women’s Nutritional Status

by RegionNorthern14%

Volta28%

Ashanti31%

Brong Ahafo20%

Western34%

Eastern34%

Upper West13%

Central32%

Upper East15%

Greater Accra45%

Percent of women age 15-49 who are overweight or obese

Ghana30%

Key Findings

• Children are breastfed for a median of 20.2 months– However, children are exclusively breastfed for 3.3

months• All children under 6 months are breastfed—63% of

children under 6 months are exclusively breastfed, and 17% are already receiving complementary foods

• 28% of children are stunted (short for their age)• 9% of women are thin, while 30% are overweight or

obese