Health and nutritional conditions of street children of Accra City Centers: An experiential study in Ghana

Abstract

Aim: Children’s nutritional status offers valuable insights into the future of society’s well-being. Street children are quite vulnerable to poor health and malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the health and nutritional status of street children in Accra, Ghana. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 children (210 males and 90 females) aged 10–17 years were recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, and triceps and calf skinfolds. Quality of diet and nutritional habits (number of meals per day and frequency of consuming particular foods) were studied using a 24-h dietary recall and food frequency questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the children was 14.8 years. Approximately 74.7% of them had at most primary education. The majority (65%) of the children lived on their own and the major economic activity engaged by them was hawking, and the average earnings per day were approximately US$1.00. The mean caloric intake of respondents was 1395 ± 483.63 kcal. Mean intake of vitamin A and iron among the children was 1054.63 ± 1222.84 retinol equivalent and 18.16 ± 10.28mg/day, respectively. Mean calcium intake was 424.57 ± 200.29mg/day. Children who were stunted formed 17.7% of respondents, 92.7% of them had normal range of body mass index (BMI), and 5.3% were underweight. Generally, BMI was higher in females compared to that in males. Conclusion: On the basis of findings, it could be concluded that street children were not adequately nourished and were highly susceptible to micronutrient deficiencies, stunting, and underweight. This calls for immediate action to put measures in place to combat this public health concern.