Focusing on child and adolescent health, the 14th edition of the report reflects on progress and identifies critical points of leverage, shifts in thinking and examples of best practice that can help ensure that SA’s children reach their full potential.
“Overweight and obesity rates are significantly higher among older children. Data from the most recent wave of NIDS show 16% of children aged 5–9 and 22% of those aged 10–14 are classified as overweight or obese. Overall, 18% of children aged 15–17 years were found to be overweight or obese. The rate was significantly higher for girls than boys , and for children living in urban areas compared to rural areas ,” reads the report.
Data from smaller in-depth studies, such as a prospective study conducted in a rural village in Limpopo, also show that a proportion of children are both stunted and overweight. National data also show poor micronutrient status in children under five years. Children deficient in vitamin A are at increased risk of mortality from diarrhoea, HIV and measles, while those with iron deficiency are at increased risk of morbidity, poor cognition and development.
Although the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency has decreased over time, 43.6% of SA children were vitamin A deficient in 2012, while zinc deficiency stood at 45% in 2005. Anaemia and iron status in children have improved, and in 2012 the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia were 10.7%, 8.1% and 1.9% respectively.
On mental health, the report revealed that there are no national estimates of the prevalence of adolescent and child mental health problems. It estimated that about 17% of children in the Western Cape have a diagnosable mental health condition, but noted that more research was needed to fully understand the scale of the mental health burden for children and adolescents in South Africa.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SA children are overweight and lack vital nutrients - reportThe prevalence of obesity in children in South Africa increased from 10.6% in 2005 to 13.3% in 2016 - more than twice the global prevalence of 5.6%.
Read more »
SA children are overweight and lack vital nutrients - reportFocusing on child and adolescent health, the 14th edition of the report reflects on progress and identifies critical points of leverage, shifts in thinking and examples of best practice that can help ensure that SA’s children reach their full potential.
Read more »
As SA gets stage 6 load-shedding, Ramaphosa prepares to head to EgyptLess than an hour after Eskom announced unprecedented stage 6 load-shedding on Monday, it was announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be leaving for Egypt on Tuesday.
Read more »
SA Cricketers’ Association calls for more heads to roll at CSAPlayers’ union want board and suspended CEO Thabang Moroe to be removed
Read more »
SA Cricketers’ Association calls for more heads to roll at CSA after Moroe's suspensionCrisis-riddled Cricket South Africa (CSA) is headed for a tailspin after the SA Cricketers’ Association (Saca) once again called for the entire board to resign.
Read more »
SA plunged into stage 6 load-sheddingEskom has announced unprecedented stage 6 load-shedding from 6pm on Monday.
Read more »