European Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Received: Apr. 29, 2018    Accepted: Sep. 05, 2018    Published: Oct. 06, 2018
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Abstract

Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption (F&VC) provide important nutrients and greatly reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases, especially when started from childhood. F&VC among adults in Ghana is one of the lowest worldwide, and this may also pertain to children. Since school children spend considerable time in school, what they eat during school hours is important for their development. The objective of this study was to assess F&VC and the proportion of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (SSBC) among two socio-economic classes. Methods: A cross-sectional study of kindergartners in the Accra Metropolitan Area was carried out. Fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and two socio-economic classes were defined prior to the study. Six schools were randomly selected; two each from three sub-metros from the Accra-Metropolitan Area. Data on meals eaten by 422 kindergartners were collected through observation and interview, guided by a checklist. Means and percentages were calculated. F&VC and SSBC was assessed along the two socio-economic classes. Results: Feeding options at school were home-packed, school-provided, and meals sold by vendors. The mean age of the respondents was 4.1 years, with 49.1% (207/422) being male. The proportion of kindergartners who consumed school-provided and home-packed meals was 70.1% (296/422) and 64.5% (272/422) respectively. Only 2.2% (9/422) of kindergartners consumed fruits, whereas total vegetable consumption was 34.1% (144/422). SSBC was associated with socio-economic class (95% CI 0.28-0.62). Conclusions: F&VC was generally low in the study population. SSBC was high, especially, in kindergartners from the higher socio-economic class schools. The Ghana Education Service should promote their consumption, by making fruits and vegetables available in schools.

DOI 10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13
Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine ( Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2018 )
Page(s) 53-57
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fruits, Vegetable, Sweetened Drink, Consumption, School Children, Ghana, Non-Communicable Diseases

References
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    Perdita Hilary Lopes, Donne Kofi Ameme, George Kuma Khumaloo, Nana Afia Ntim, Rexford Adade, et al. (2018). Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6(4), 53-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13

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    ACS Style

    Perdita Hilary Lopes; Donne Kofi Ameme; George Kuma Khumaloo; Nana Afia Ntim; Rexford Adade, et al. Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2018, 6(4), 53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13

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    AMA Style

    Perdita Hilary Lopes, Donne Kofi Ameme, George Kuma Khumaloo, Nana Afia Ntim, Rexford Adade, et al. Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study. Eur J Prev Med. 2018;6(4):53-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13,
      author = {Perdita Hilary Lopes and Donne Kofi Ameme and George Kuma Khumaloo and Nana Afia Ntim and Rexford Adade and Phoebe Balagumeyetime and Evans Nsor Ayamdooh and Patrick Akandi and Maame Amo-Addae},
      title = {Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study},
      journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {53-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20180604.13},
      abstract = {Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption (F&VC) provide important nutrients and greatly reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases, especially when started from childhood. F&VC among adults in Ghana is one of the lowest worldwide, and this may also pertain to children. Since school children spend considerable time in school, what they eat during school hours is important for their development. The objective of this study was to assess F&VC and the proportion of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (SSBC) among two socio-economic classes. Methods: A cross-sectional study of kindergartners in the Accra Metropolitan Area was carried out. Fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and two socio-economic classes were defined prior to the study. Six schools were randomly selected; two each from three sub-metros from the Accra-Metropolitan Area. Data on meals eaten by 422 kindergartners were collected through observation and interview, guided by a checklist. Means and percentages were calculated. F&VC and SSBC was assessed along the two socio-economic classes. Results: Feeding options at school were home-packed, school-provided, and meals sold by vendors. The mean age of the respondents was 4.1 years, with 49.1% (207/422) being male. The proportion of kindergartners who consumed school-provided and home-packed meals was 70.1% (296/422) and 64.5% (272/422) respectively. Only 2.2% (9/422) of kindergartners consumed fruits, whereas total vegetable consumption was 34.1% (144/422). SSBC was associated with socio-economic class (95% CI 0.28-0.62). Conclusions: F&VC was generally low in the study population. SSBC was high, especially, in kindergartners from the higher socio-economic class schools. The Ghana Education Service should promote their consumption, by making fruits and vegetables available in schools.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Fruit and Vegetable, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Kindergartners in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study
    AU  - Perdita Hilary Lopes
    AU  - Donne Kofi Ameme
    AU  - George Kuma Khumaloo
    AU  - Nana Afia Ntim
    AU  - Rexford Adade
    AU  - Phoebe Balagumeyetime
    AU  - Evans Nsor Ayamdooh
    AU  - Patrick Akandi
    AU  - Maame Amo-Addae
    Y1  - 2018/10/06
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13
    T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    SP  - 53
    EP  - 57
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8230
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20180604.13
    AB  - Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption (F&VC) provide important nutrients and greatly reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases, especially when started from childhood. F&VC among adults in Ghana is one of the lowest worldwide, and this may also pertain to children. Since school children spend considerable time in school, what they eat during school hours is important for their development. The objective of this study was to assess F&VC and the proportion of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (SSBC) among two socio-economic classes. Methods: A cross-sectional study of kindergartners in the Accra Metropolitan Area was carried out. Fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages and two socio-economic classes were defined prior to the study. Six schools were randomly selected; two each from three sub-metros from the Accra-Metropolitan Area. Data on meals eaten by 422 kindergartners were collected through observation and interview, guided by a checklist. Means and percentages were calculated. F&VC and SSBC was assessed along the two socio-economic classes. Results: Feeding options at school were home-packed, school-provided, and meals sold by vendors. The mean age of the respondents was 4.1 years, with 49.1% (207/422) being male. The proportion of kindergartners who consumed school-provided and home-packed meals was 70.1% (296/422) and 64.5% (272/422) respectively. Only 2.2% (9/422) of kindergartners consumed fruits, whereas total vegetable consumption was 34.1% (144/422). SSBC was associated with socio-economic class (95% CI 0.28-0.62). Conclusions: F&VC was generally low in the study population. SSBC was high, especially, in kindergartners from the higher socio-economic class schools. The Ghana Education Service should promote their consumption, by making fruits and vegetables available in schools.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Epidemiology, Veterinary Services Directorate, Accra, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Public Health Surveillance and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Public Health Surveillance and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Public Health Surveillance and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology, Veterinary Services Directorate, Accra, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology, Veterinary Services Directorate, Accra, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Public Health Surveillance and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana

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