Richard Stephen Ansong
University of Ghana, Ghana
Title: The risk of malnutrition in the elderly in Ghana: A case study
Biography
Biography: Richard Stephen Ansong
Abstract
Background: The elderly population in developing countries is often nutrition insecure. An understanding of the overall risk
of malnutrition of the elderly in the Ghanaian society is a key in planning an appropriate intervention for them.
Method: The study was a cross-sectional study involving participants aged 60 years and above recruited from a suburb of
Accra. Information on their background, dietary habits and level of physical activity were collected using a pretested semistructured
questionnaire, weight, height and MUAC were also measured.
Result: A total of 121 participants were recruited into the study. About 59% were females, the mean age was 66.66.5 years
and 69.6% of participants had some form of formal education. Fish, beans, palm oil, cassava, rice and tomato were the most
consumed commodities and walking was the most predominant activity they performed. About 70% of the participants
skipped meals. The males were about 4 times more likely to be overweight than the females. Sex (OR=3.51; 1.20-10.28, p≤0.05)
and MUAC (≥30 cm) (Normal: OR=38.35; 7.61-19.33, p≤0.05; Obese: OR=0.021 (0.004-0.109) were significant predictors of
BMI as an indicator of malnutrition.
Conclusion: Findings from the study showed that the elderly population was malnourished. Nutrition intervention targeting
the elderly is therefore needful.