Browsing by Author "Steyn, N. P."

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    Household food security - What health professionals should know
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1998) Steyn, N. P.; Robertson, H.-L.; Mekuria, M.; Labadarios, D.
    Objectives. To determine national food security (availability) from national food production and consumption data and to compare 'available' consumption data with actual consumption data obtained from dietary surveys in order to predict household food security. Design. Survey of the literature and calculations from South African food balance sheets. Methods. Data were obtained from reports and food balance sheets published by the Department of Agriculture's Directorate of Agricultural Economic Trends, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the World Bank. Food available for individual consumption was calculated (production minus animal feed minus export and import) and compared with actual consumption data derived from dietary surveys published locally. Results. Findings indicate that the growth rates of staple foods and livestock over the last 23 years are lower than the population growth rate. The average available daily energy is 9 772 kJ and the protein content is 66.8 g as calculated from food balance sheets. However, dietary surveys indicate that urban and rural blacks have considerably lower energy intakes, indicating poor household food security. Mean daily energy intakes were found to be 7 345 kJ for urban, and 7 130 kJ for rural black South Africans. Conclusion. We recommend that research focus on causes of food insecurity in order to implement effective intervention programmes. It is essential that such research be multidisciplinary and include agriculturalists, health professionals and social scientists.
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    Nutrition related knowledge and practices of hypertensive adults attending hypertensive clinics at day hospitals in the Cape Metropole
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2004-05) Becker, H.; Bester, M.; Reyneke, N.; Labadarios, D.; Monyeki, K. D.; Steyn, N. P.
    The aim of this study was to determine nutrition knowledge and dietary practices of hypertensive adults attending hypertensive clinics at Day Hospitals in the Cape Metropole. Ten Day Hospitals were randomly selected from a total of 31 Day Hospitals and the first participants attending the hypertension clinics per day were recruited. A total of 85 participants were evaluated. The weight, height, waist and hip circumference of each participant was measured, as well as their blood pressure. Knowledge of dietary intake was obtained by completing a questionnaire, during an interview with the patient. Knowledge regarding salt usage indicated that a large percentage (34.1 %) of participants believed that flavour enhancers like Aromat or Fondor could safely be used instead of table salt. Furthermore, 23.5% reported that tinned and smoked meat or fish have a low sodium (salt) content. Fruit and vegetables were perceived as having a positive effect on hypertension by 74.1 % of participants. However, only 15% of the group knew that the recommendation for their usage was five or more servings per day. Only 12.9% of participants in this study had a normal weight (body mass index (BMI) < 25), 25.9% were overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9) and 61.2% were obese (BMI ^30); 84.7% recognized the association between obesity and hypertension. A large waist circumference (> 88 cm in women; 102 cm in men) was found in 61.2% of participants, however, only 18.2% of black men had such a measurement. Uncontrolled blood pressure readings (> 140/90 mm Hg) were found in 61.2% of these patients at the hypertension clinics.
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    Weight and health status of black female students
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2000) Steyn, N. P.; Senekal, M.; Brits, S.; Alberts, M.; Mashego, T.; Nel, J. H.
    Objective. To examine black female students for the occurrence of risk factors associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle, namely obesity, hypertension, nicotine usage, dyslipidaemia and compromised mental health (depression). Design. A cross-sectional analytical study design was used. All participants were examined within a period of 3 months during 1994. Weight, height, and hip and waist measurements were taken. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) were calculated for each subject. Two systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were taken for each participant. Questionnaires were used to determine specific risk factors related to lifestyle. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure psychological well-being. Fasting blood samples were collected and analysed for serum lipids and iron status. Setting. The University of the North in the Northern Province of South Africa. Subjects. A complete data set of sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings, as well as a psychological health test and a medical questionnaire, were obtained from 231 of the 431 first-year female students who attended the university orientation programme. Only students with a complete data set were included in the sample. Results. Eighteen per cent of students were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), 6.5% were obese (BMI ≥ 30), and 26.8% were underweight. Mean blood pressure, BMI, WHR and WC increased significantly with age and were highest among the ≥ 24-year-olds. Only 1.6% of students had elevated blood pressure, 1.0% smoked and 4.4% took snuff. BMI, WC and WHR were positively correlated with blood pressure and age. Few students had dyslipidaemia (3.8% cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/l). However 14.5% were anaemic (Hb < 11.5 g/dl) and 24.6% had microcytosis (< 80 fl). Nearly one-fifth of students (17.7%) were classified as being moderately to severely depressed. Conclusions. Black female students younger than 24 years exhibited few risk factors associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle. However in older women (≥ 24 years) there were significant increases in BMI, WHR, WC and blood pressure. A large number of students of all ages exhibited moderate to severe depression and anaemia was prevalent.
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    Who is the nutrition workforce in the Western Cape?
    (2011) Goeiman, H. D.; Labadarios, D.; Steyn, N. P.; Titus, S.
    Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the current nutrition staffing profile of the Integrated Nutrition Programme (INP) in Department of Health in the Western Cape, and establish whether it is adequate to meet the objectives of the INP. Method: Self-administered questionnaires compiled in English were used as the main data collection instrument for nutrition staff in districts and at hospitals (n = 647). Eight individual questionnaires, one per staff category, were developed and utilised in the study. Results: Foodservice workers were the largest group of nutrition personnel (n = 509; 79%), followed by dietitians (n = 64; 10%), managers (n = 31; 5%), auxiliary workers (n = 28; 4%), and administrative workers (n = 15; 2%). Sixty-two per cent of the nutrition workforce was located in urban areas and 38% in rural districts. Hospital and district dietitians experienced common problems, as well as specific differences. Regarding problems, both categories referred to limited resources, inadequate number of available posts, and lack of acknowledgement and support from administrative and supply chain management. District dietitians were also hampered by lack of space for consultations, poor referrals from doctors, insufficient posts for nutrition advisers, and difficulty in communicating with Xhosa-speaking patients. Hospital dietitians were hampered by insufficient interaction with district dietitians and lack of dietitians for specialised units. They also mentioned that poor salaries were affecting morale. Conclusion: Recommendations such as additional posts for dietitians, improved conditions of service and salaries, increased advocacy for nutrition, and a number of human resources recommendations were made, and should be considered if the INP objectives are to be met.