The National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS): South Africa, 1999

• Published in: Public health nutrition Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 533 - 543
• Main Authors: Labadarios, D, Steyn, NP, Maunder, E, MacIntryre, U, Gericke, G, Swart, R, Huskisson, J, Dannhauser, A, Vorster, HH, Nesmvuni, AE, Nel, JH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2005
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Body Height - physiology; Censuses; Child; Child Nutrition Disorders - epidemiology; Child Nutrition Disorders - etiology; Child Nutrition Disorders - prevention & control; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Diet Surveys; Dietary intake; Dietary survey; Female; Folic acid; Food; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Food, Fortified; Households; Humans; Hunger; Infant; Macronutrients; Male; Mental Recall; Micronutrients; Mortality; Nutrient status; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Status; Questionnaires; Selenium; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban areas; Vitamins; South Africa; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; Dietary intake; Dietary survey; Children; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1079/PHN2005816

The aim of the National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) in South Africa was to determine the nutrient intakes and anthropometric status of children (1-9 years old), as well as factors that influence their dietary intake. This was a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of all children aged 1-9 years in South Africa. A nationally representative sample with provincial representation was selected using 1996 Census information. Of the 3120 children who were originally sampled data were obtained from 2894, a response rate of 93%. The sociodemographic status of each household was assessed by a questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a 24-hour recall and a food-frequency questionnaire from the caregivers of the children. Food purchasing practices were determined by means of a food procurement questionnaire. Hunger was assessed by a modified hunger scale questionnaire. Nutritional status was determined by means of anthropometric measurements: height, weight, head circumference and arm circumference. At the national level, stunting (height-for-age below minus two standard deviations (< -2SD) from the reference median) was by far the most common nutritional disorder, affecting nearly one in five children. The children least affected (17%) were those living in urban areas. Even with regard to the latter, however, children living in informal urban areas were more severely affected (20%) compared with those living in formal urban areas (16%). A similar pattern emerged for the prevalence of underweight (weight-for-age < -2SD), with one in 10 children being affected at the national level. Furthermore, one in 10 (13%) and one in four (26%) children aged 1-3 years had an energy intake less than half and less than two-thirds of their daily energy needs, respectively. For South African children as a whole, the intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamins A, D, C and E, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folic acid were below two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. At the national level, data from the 24-hour recalls indicated that the most commonly consumed food items were maize, sugar, tea, whole milk and brown bread. For South African children overall, one in two households (52%) experienced hunger, one in four (23%) were at risk of hunger and only one in four households (25%) appeared food-secure. The NFCS indicated that a large majority of households were food-insecure and that energy deficit and micronutrient deficiencies were common, resulting in a high prevalence of stunting. These results were used as motivation for the introduction of mandatory fortification in South Africa.