Abstract:
This paper describes households’ perceptions of hunger and adequacy of dietary intake
by caregivers. A descriptive cross-sectional study in the quantitative research paradigm
was conducted to collect data from caregivers (N=50) who were responsible for buying
and preparing food for school aged children, residing in different households in
Bronkhorstspruit in the Gauteng Province South Africa. Caregivers were individually
interviewed using structured questionnaires (socio-demographic, Hunger Scale and the
24 hour-recall questionnaires, respectively). The majority (68%) of the caregivers had
good nutrition knowledge but they did not know how to apply the knowledge in their
dietary lifestyle. The socio-economic status and nutrition knowledge and attitudes of the
caregivers were found to be possible factors that influenced dietary intakes of the
households. The mean Household Food Variety Score (FVS) was 4.38 (± 1.0) and the
Household Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was 4.28 (±1.0). The results indicated an
average of eight food items were consumed in the households during the 24-hour period
of the maximum of 24 food items, identified by the 24-hour recalls. It was concluded
that there is a need to eradicate the problem of low food diversity and there is a need to
increase micronutrient intakes of children. The DDS of households showed that the food
groups that were consumed by the households were ranging from an average of three
(food items which incorporated a number of food groups from one) to seven groups. It
can also be concluded that the households had a limited variety and diversity of diet since
the food items and food groups were limited. This study showed that there is a limited
food access by the households due to low incomes. Caregivers should be encouraged to
get involved in food production activities; such as greenery projects, brick making
projects, etc. that they can use the money they get from the projects to buy food for their
families. This would help the caregivers in improving the dietary diversity and variety of
their households.
