Determinants of undernutrition in rural communities of a protected area in Gabon.
OBJECTIVE
To understand how access to natural resources may contribute to nutrition.


METHODS
In each of the two major seasons, data were collected during a 7 d period using observations, semi-structured interviews, anthropometric measures and a weighed food consumption survey.


METHODS
Four rural communities selected to represent inland and coastal areas of the Gamba Complex in Gabon.


METHODS
In each community, all individuals from groups vulnerable to malnutrition, i.e. children aged 0-23 months (n 41) and 24-59 months (n 63) and the elderly (n 101), as well as women caregivers (n 96).


RESULTS
In most groups, household access to natural resources was associated with household access to food but not with individual nutritional status. In children aged 0-23 months, access to care and to health services and a healthy environment were the best predictors of length-for-age (adjusted R2: 14%). Health status was the only predictor of weight-for-height in children aged 24-59 months (adjusted R2: 14%). In women caregivers, household food security was negatively associated with nutritional status, as was being younger than 20 years (adjusted R2: 16%). Among the elderly, only nutrient adequacy predicted nutritional status (adjusted R2: 5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Improving access to care and health for young children would help reverse the process of undernutrition. Reaching a better understanding of how the access of individuals to both food and other resources relate to household access could further our appreciation of the constraints to good nutrition. This is particularly relevant in women to ensure that their possibly important contribution to the household is not at their own expense.
Blaney
S
S
World Wide Fund for Nature, Bayanga, Central African Republic. soniablaney@hotmail.com
Beaudry
M
M
Latham
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049628:Body Size; D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006128:Growth; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health