Impact of Nutrition Education on the Nutritional Status of Malnourished Stroke Patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi
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Date
May, 2019.
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Abstract
There is a high malnutrition rate among stroke survivors and this leads to reduced functional recovery among these patients. There has not been much studies on how to improve the nutritional status of the stroke patients, especially out-patients in Ghana. This study was conducted to find out how nutrition education would impact the nutritional status of the malnourished stroke patients. The study was structured in two phases. Phase I involved screening the stroke patients for malnutrition, using subjective global assessment (SGA), biochemical, dietary and anthropometric indicators. In all, 81 patients were screened for malnutrition. Phase II involved giving nutrition education to the selected malnourished patients for three months. The patients were given the nutrition education twice each month. After three months, patients were re-assessed. Twenty-six (26) stroke patients were enrolled for phase II, but seventeen (17) completed this phase. The mean age of the 81 stroke patients was 55.9(±10.8) years. Prevalence of stroke among males was higher than in females. According to the various criteria used in the study, the levels of malnutrition recorded in the patients were; SGA, 32.1%, biochemical, 16%, BMI, 71.4% and MUAC, 41.1%. Malnutrition was highest among patients who were dependent on caregivers (p=0.008) and those with the lowest educational level (p=0.017). Energy intake was lower (942kcal) among the undernourished, compared with the well-nourished (1834kcal). Protein intake was also lower among the malnourished, compared with the well-nourished (p=0.032). Fruit and vegetable intake was low among the patients at baseline. Nutritional status of the malnourished patients improved after the intervention (p=0.000). Haemoglobin levels improved significantly over the baseline and there was increase in fruits and vegetables consumption. Protein and carbohydrate intake also increased after the three months of nutrition education. There was a strong positive association between increased nutirition knowledge and fruits and vegetables(r=0.576, p=0.000) protein (r=0.570, p=0.000) intakes. In conclusion, nutrition education improved the nutritional status of malnourished stroke patients.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics.