Food consumption of children of weaning age in central-eastern and north-eastern Ivory Coast

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children of weaning age in the Centre-East and North-East Ivory Coast and their feeding practices in order to offer them quality and low-cost instant infant flours from local products. Methods: The study was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The aim was to collect information on the socio-economic characteristics of households. Sampling was calculated using the Vaughn-Morrow equation. A total of 952 households were surveyed. Results: The results of the survey showed that the prevalence of chronic malnutrition ranged from 22.69 to 43.28 %, that of acute malnutrition from 7.98 to 14.29 %, and underweight from 16.81 to 33.19 %. Flour made by households was generally millet or maize. Dipping was the most applied technological treatment by households (71.43 to 83.33 %). Also, the energy density of the majority of the porridges prepared by households was less than 100 Kcal/100 g. The food products grown in households in general were plantain (1.37 to 30.08 %), cassava (2.40 to 34.86 %), groundnuts (24 to 36.67 %), maize (10.29 to 42.67 %) and millet (0.26 to 39.04 %). These local products would undoubtedly make it possible to formulate composite flours that are better suited to children in a weaning situation.