Question
1 Nutritional status assessment of individuals and communities.
Group presentation.(13)
Nutritional status: is determined by the quality and quantity of nutrients
consumed and the body’s ability to absorb
Nutritional status in other words it can also be determined by a complex interaction between
internal and constitutional factors and external environmental factors
Internal or constitutional factors like : age, sex,nutrition, behavior, physical activities and
diseases
External environmental factors like; food safety,cultural, socio and economic circumstances
Nutritional assessment: is the process of evaluating an individual nutritional status including
their diet,health status and physical conditions
There are several methods used to assess the nutritional status of individuals and
communities,These include:
Direct method
1 Anthropometric measurements : height,weight, mid arm circumference and skin fold thickness
2 clinical method : good nutritional status should be obtained general clinical examination with
special attention like hair,angle of the mouth, gums, nails and skin etc
3 Dietary evaluation: food intake or it includes food frequency
4 Biochemical tests : Hemoglobin is the most important test and useful index of the overall state
of nutrition
5 Functional method : this deals with cognitive function or physical performance
6 Overall assessment this considers medical history medicines and other factors impacting
nutritional intake and metabolism
Indirect method
Economic factors e.g per capital, income, population density or social habits
Vital health statistics particularly infants and under 5 mortality fertility index
Factors affecting the nutritional status of the communities
1 surveys and questionnaire’s: combined data on food habits, nutrient intake and health status
2 Nutrition surveys: Assesses the availability,accessibility and utilizations of nutritious food
3 prevalence of nutrition related disorders: Tracks cases of malnutrition,obesity, or micronutrient
deficiencies
4 Demographic and Socioeconomic data: considers factors like age, gender, income and
education level.
Reasons for accessing the nutritional status of individuals and communities
Individuals
1 To identify children who are malnourished
2 To diagnose nutrition deficiency diseases
3 To monitor progress of children under malnutrition management programmes
4 To monitor nutritional status of hospital in patients
5 To monitor the growth of children
Communities
1 Identify population growth who are malnourished
2 To identify the need for nutrition interventions in a population or sub groups of the population
by means of conducting a needs assessment
3 To develop health care programs that meet the community needs which are defined by the
assessment
4 To monitor and evaluate existing programs and interventions.
Conclusion of nutritional assessment, nutritional assessment must be simple,effective, adapted
and reproducible in order to allow early and effective nutritional management .
Group (13)members
1 Amewor Priscilla Edem -5238000684
2 Akomaa Forson Euphemia -5238000685
3 Mensah Mavis -5238000686
4 Aisha Dauda -5238000687
5 Boateng Charles-5238000688
6 Aniabre charlotte -5238000689
7 Amposah Mary - 5238000690
8 Araba Kutuafo Quansah -691
9 Sarpong Julliet Nana-5238000692
10 Najat sule -5238000693
