Energy and nutrient intakes of public health concern by rural and urban Ghanaian mothers assessed by weighed food compared to recommended intakes

Authors: OSEI, PRINCE - University Of Georgia; MCCRORY, MEGAN - Boston University; STEINER-ASIEDU, MATILDA - University Of Ghana; SAZONOV, EDWARD - University Of Alabama; SUN, MINGUI - University Of Pittsburgh; JIA, WENYAN - University Of Pittsburgh; BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); FROST, GARY - Imperial College; LO, BENNY - Imperial College; DOMFE, CHRISTABEL - University Of California, Davis; ANDERSON, ALEX - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2025
Publication Date: 8/7/2025
Citation: Osei, P.K., McCrory, M.A., Steiner-Asiedu, M., Sazonov, E., Sun, M., Jia, W., Baranowski, T., Frost, G., Lo, B., Domfe, C.A., Anderson, A.K. 2025. Energy and nutrient intakes of public health concern by rural and urban Ghanaian mothers assessed by weighed food compared to recommended intakes. Nutrients. 17. Article 2567. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152567.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152567

Interpretive Summary: Previous studies assessing dietary intake have used self-report methods, prone to misreporting. Using researcher-conducted weighed food records, we assessed rural and urban mothers' energy and nutrient intakes of concern and compared them to recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs). This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban Ghanaian communities. Dietary data were collected from fifty-four mothers (26 rural, 28 urban) on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day, analyzed with software, and programmed with West African, FNDDS, Kenyan, Ugandan, and USDA food composition databases. Mean percentage contributions of macronutrients to energy intake were within recommended ranges for rural and urban mothers. All participants met or exceeded vitamin A RNI. While all rural mothers met or exceeded iron RNI, some urban mothers did not. Few rural and urban mothers did not meet zinc RNI. About half of rural and urban mothers did not meet folate RNI. Most rural and urban mothers met or exceeded fiber RNI. Overall, rural mothers had higher energy and nutrient intakes than urban mothers. While most met RNIs, there were some micronutrient inadequacies, particularly folate, where almost half of rural and urban mothers consumed below RNI. These findings indicate the need for tailored interventions to prevent nutrient deficiencies or excesses in Ghanaian mothers.

Technical Abstract: Previous studies assessing dietary intake have used self-report methods, prone to misreporting. Using researcher-conducted weighed food records, we assessed rural and urban mothers' energy and nutrient intakes of concern and compared them to recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs). This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural (Asaase Kokoo) and urban (University of Ghana Staff Village) communities. Dietary data were collected from fifty-four mothers (26 rural, 28 urban) on 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day, analyzed with software, and programmed with West African, FNDDS, Kenyan, Ugandan, and USDA food composition databases. Mean (SD) ages (years) were 35.8 (11.6) and 44.4 (7.6), and mean energy intakes (kcal) were 2026 (461) and 1669 (385) for rural and urban mothers, respectively. Mean percentage contributions of macronutrients to energy intake were within recommended ranges for rural and urban mothers. All participants met or exceeded vitamin A RNI, irrespective of location. While all rural mothers met or exceeded iron RNI, some urban mothers (14.3%) did not. Few rural (7.7%) and urban mothers (10.7%) did not meet zinc RNI. About half of rural (46.2%) and urban mothers (53.6%) did not meet folate RNI. Most rural (96.1%) and urban mothers (92.8%) met or exceeded fiber RNI. Overall, rural mothers had higher energy and nutrient intakes than urban mothers. While most met RNIs, there were some micronutrient inadequacies, particularly folate, where almost half of rural and urban mothers consumed below RNI. Our findings indicate the need for tailored interventions to prevent nutrient deficiencies or excesses in Ghanaian mothers.