Author(s)

Christelle Momdjo M’bobda¹, Judith Laure Ngondi¹, Françoise Raïssa Ntentie^1,2, Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente^1,3, Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo^1,3, Boris Gabin Kingue Azantsa^1*, Julius Enyong Oben¹

¹Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
²Higher Teacher’s and Training College, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon.
³Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, IMPM, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Background: Malnutrition due to poor feeding habits, is still a serious public health issue in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the dietary patterns and nutritional status of women of childbearing age in various geographical settings in Cameroon so as to propose intervention strategies. Methods: In a cross sectional study conducted from January 2014 to August 2015, women aged 14 - 49 years were randomly selected from the capital city Yaounde and four regions of Cameroon. Anthropometric measures were collected for nutritional status assessment. Data on diet habits and socio-demographic parameters were collected. Results: 608 women of reproductive age with average age 34.68 ± 0.39 years made up the study. Dietary patterns assessment revealed that, most study participants had a frequent intake of carbohydrate rich foods and fats and oils rich foods; but an infrequent intake of protein rich foods and vitamin and minerals rich foods in a week. Nutritional status assessment revealed that, 2.1% were underweight, 28.6% had a normal weight, 30.8% overweight, and 38.5% obese. The grass field regions presented the highest prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity. Higher malnutrition levels were linked to low intakes of pulses and beans; milk and dairy products; vegetables and fruits food groups. Conclusion: Women of the study population had an unhealthy dietary pattern and a poor nutritional status. Therefore, strategies such as nutritional education are warranted and should be age and region specific, so as to target specific groups of women and ensure adequate nutritional status and health.

Diet Pattern, Nutritional Status, Childbearing Age, Women, Cameroon

M’bobda, C. , Ngondi, J. , Ntentie, F. , Tchuente, B. , Nguedjo, M. , Azantsa, B. and Oben, J. (2020) Assessment of Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Women of Childbearing Age in Cameroon: A Cross Sectional Study. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 10, 369-392. doi: 10.4236/ojepi.2020.104030.