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Nutrition of older persons in Sudan: a gender perspective.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

Whilst traditionally respected, older people in Africa are becoming increasingly marginalized as a result of social change and economic pressure. The family remains the most important social support system for older people, but it is changing. The contribution of the elderly Sudanese (both women and men) to the development of our nation is noticeable. Since women live longer than men in most countries and experience greater financial and cultural constraints, this affects their quality of life as older persons. Nutrition is important during every life stage and the needs continue to change as we age.

After menopause, women have different nutritional needs and meeting them is important to their health. This paper reflects on the gender characteristics of the elderly population in Sudan with regards to factors directly affecting their nutritional status. Information on older adults and high-risk groups within the population of older people are collected through a review of information on the multiple influences (physical, behavioral and socioeconomic) of two groups of elderly living in different socio-economic levels in Khartoum State. Since very little work has been done in searching the needs of this particular group, lessons learned were also viewed. Results indicate high prevalence of malnutrition (under nutrition) among the elderly population, differences between males and females and between the two socio-economic classes were remarkable; 13% and 7% for males and females within the high class compared to 20 and 17% for males and females within the low class. Overweight as a risk to obesity was common to all groups (20-67%), but particularly among oldest women and men in the high socio-economic class (67% and 57% respectively).

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Introduction

The population of older people throughout the world is increasing at a very rapid rate. Women, who currently constitute 55% of the total population of older people, will continue to constitute the majority of the elderly population (HAIb, 2001). African older women contribute in many ways: as income generators; caring for children, the sick or orphaned dependants; teaching younger people, especially by their example of co-operative action; in farming, food production and shelter construction (HAI, 2002).

Since women live longer than men in most countries and experience greater financial and cultural constraints, this affects their quality of life as older persons (Grieco, & Apt, 2001). And whilst traditionally respected, older people in Africa are becoming increasingly marginalized as a result of social change and economic pressure (Kinsella, 1992). Unlike most other countries of the world where older women outnumber men, in Kenya this seems to be the opposite (Kinsella, 1992). This was attributed to the fact that the traditional patterns of family support for the aged have been eroded largely due to migration and changing societal values.

The family remains the most important social support system for older people, but it is changing. Furthermore, during periods of crisis the ability and willingness of the family to support its older members is adversely affected.

Nutrition for Older people:

Older people are generally identified as being a group at particular risk of poor dietary intake and nutritional problems and are thus a high priority target group for nutrition education (MOH MH, 1996).

One of the most prominent changes in body composition with age is the loss of skeletal muscle mass, also referred to as Sarcopenia (Evans & Campbell, 1993). With advancing age, there is also a...