Paper Details

Anthropometry, body composition and iron status of lactating women living in Yaounde, Cameroon

Patrice Djiele Ngameni, Estelle Sajo Nana

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.6.53-58

Int. J. Biosci. 4(6), 53-58. March, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

The study was aimed at assessing the anthropometry, the body composition and iron status, of lactating women living in Yaounde, Cameroon. Seventy-six (76) lactating mothers were recruited at the University Teaching Hospital Vaccination Centre, Yaoundé. Anthropometric measurements including body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness were done on these mothers. Total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW) and fat mass (FM) of these mothers were estimated by monofrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The hemoglobin level was determined by assessing the iron status of the mothers. The results obtained showed that the mean value of mothers BMI irrespective of their age was within the overweight limit. The TBW and FM of mothers varied from 21.7 Kg to 43.7 Kg and 12.2 Kg to 46.2 Kg respectively. The LM of these mothers varied from 41.4 Kg to 62.8 Kg. According to the hemoglobin level, 23.6 % of lactating mothers were anemic while 76.4 % were normal. No significant effect of breastfeeding was found on the body composition of lactating women. Most of the lactating mothers were overweighed and obese. The hemoglobin level of lactating mothers did not significantly vary with breastfeeding practices.