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Key Text Summary of Research Findings on the Nutritional Status and Risk Factors for Vulnerability of Older People in Africa

Author: Help Age International
Date: 2004
Size: 74 pages (10 MB)

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Summary

As the global population of older people (OP) is increasing, it is important to recognise and respond to their specific needs. This report, by HelpAge International, brings together key issues affecting the nutrition and health of OP, drawing on a range of surveys in Africa. There is an urgent need to develop and implement geriatric nutrition policy in African countries, requiring intersectoral co-operation between government ministries, NGOs and donors.

A key factor determining the nutritional and health vulnerability of OP is society’s ageist attitude, seeing programmes targeted at OP as being a waste of resources. As a result, very few programmes meet their specific needs, and most humanitarian interventions actually discriminate against them.

This report summarises research surveys conducted with trained nutritionists over a three year period in a number of African countries. An overview of health, nutrition and socio-economic issues identified by OP themselves is given, and provides a basis for informing future research and policy.

OP’s situation varies within and between countries, but a number of significant trends were observed.
Under nutrition prevalence ranged from 7.6 per cent in Tanzania to 62.2 per cent in Ghana for men. For women it ranged between 2.2 per cent in South Africa to 44.6 per cent in Ghana. Older adults in emergency situations are particularly at risk; in Sierra Leone over three-quarters of older adults sampled were underweight.
In Senegal and Cameroon there was a high prevalence of obesity, particularly in women. Excessive consumption of alcohol, associated with urbanization, was reported in OP in Benin and Botswana and is associated with adverse nutritional and health status.
Social and economic risk factors and clinical signs of poor nutritional status (e.g. dehydration/ oedema) should be considered as well as anthropometrical indicators.
Increasing care-giving responsibilities of older Africans (largely due to AIDS) is a major factor contributing to inadequate household food security. Other key factors are adverse environment conditions and inadequate access to land tenure. HIV/AIDS also disrupted traditional family and community support systems for OP.
Governments, NGOs and donors need to pay greater consideration to the needs and rights of OP.

Government social welfare policies need to address the burden of child-care experienced by grandparents.

OP are extremely vulnerable in emergency situations but are not currently considered a high-risk group. They are not targeted with food aid, and types of food rations are largely unsuitable for older persons. Greater awareness of the health and nutrition needs of OP in emergency areas is required among community-based organisations and NGOs involved in relief programmes.
Dedicated health services for OPs, accompanied by improved training of health care workers in geriatric needs is necessary. Improved dental health and opthalmological services are crucial, and in some countries malarial control programmes need to better target OPs.
Targeting of nutrition education to older women may improve nutritional status at household level, including younger family members.
Optimal nutrition in OPs has implications for improving their health status and general wellbeing, as well as reducing their utilisation of health-care resources.
Government funded strategies should operate within NGO infrastructures, and support informal services, social support networks and kin support.

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Source: Helpage International Africa Regional Centre, 2004, ‘Summary of Research Findings on the Nutritional Status and Risk Factors for Vulnerability of Older People in Africa’, Helpage International, Nairobi
Author: HelpAge International, http://www.helpage.org