| Abstrakt: |
Despite South Africa's potential to feed most of its people adequately, an estimated 20% of South African households have inadequate to severely inadequate access to food and food security is directly related to inadequate dietary intake, which may lead to poor nutritional status of children. The study determines household food access and nutritional status of children aged 2-5 years old in households in the Vhembe District. A descriptive correlational study was carried out at a community level within households. Correlations were observed between food security and WHZ (r=-(0202, p=0.036), WAZ (-1.56, p=0.3), and HAZ (r=-068, p=0.36). Inverse association was observed between household food security and wasting (r=-0.202, p=0.036). There was a positive (r=.229, p=0.02) association between the educational status of the mother and household food security. The unemployed and those who never attended school showed poor food access scores. Mothers with the highest qualification had increased household income (r=.275, p=.000) and were food secured (r=.307, p=.000). Inverse association (r=-.192**, p=.010) was observed between employment status of the mother and food security access scores. Households with increased income had shown positive association (r=.207**, p=.005) with an increase in number of household food secure. Household size and moderate food security had positive relationship (r=.273*, p=.836). A strong positive correlation between household food access and nutritional status of children was found indicating undernutrition mostly occurring in severely food insecure households where access to food was minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
