Risk factors for food contamination among children discharged from community management of acute malnutrition programmes in South Sudan: A cross-sectional study and hazard analysis critical control point approach.
Matern Child Nutr
; 20(2): e13612, 2024 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38143422
ABSTRACT
Children under-5 years of age are particularly vulnerable to severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and the risk factors associated with relapse to SAM are poorly understood. Possible causes are asymptomatic or symptomatic infection with enteric pathogens, with contaminated food as a critical transmission route. This cross-sectional study comprised a household survey with samples of child food (n = 382) and structured observations of food preparation (n = 197) among children aged 6-59 months that were discharged from treatment in community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programmes in South Sudan. We quantified Escherichia coli and total coliforms (TCs), measured in colony forming units per g of food (CFU/g), as indicators of microbial contamination of child food. A modified hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) approach was utilised to determine critical control points (CCPs) followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to understand the risk factors associated with contamination. Over 40% (n = 164) of samples were contaminated with E. coli (43% >0 E. coli CFU/g, 95% CI 38%-48%), and 90% (n = 343) had >10 TCs (CFU/g) (>10 TC CFU/g, 95% CI 87%-93%). Risk factors associated (p < 0.05) with child food contamination included if the child fed themselves (9.05 RR, 95% CI [3.18, 31.16]) and exposure to animals (2.63 RR, 95% CI [1.33, 5.34]). This study highlights the risk factors and potential control strategies that can support interventions that reduce food contamination exposure in young children and help further protect those that are highly vulnerable to recurrent exposure to enteric pathogens.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Contaminación de Alimentos
/
Desnutrición
Límite:
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Matern Child Nutr
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS DA NUTRICAO
/
PERINATOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido