Acceptability of chicken powder in home prepared complementary foods for children in Ghana

Abstract

The persistent problem of childhood malnutrition and growth faltering in sub-Saharan African countries such as Ghana despite food aid intervention programs, suggests rethinking of the content and mode of delivery of such food programs. While several food programs and formulations exist for the treatment and management of childhood malnutrition, most are neither culturally appropriate nor easily accessible to families at the household level. There is, therefore, a need for a food product that can be tailored to a particular culture and local food produce which provides the necessary macronutrients and micronutrients in adequate amount and is easy to use at the household level to prevent malnutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of incorporating chicken powder into the Ghanaian child’s everyday meal. Participants in the study included mothers and their pre-school age children. The chicken powder was incorporated into a breakfast meal (“Tom Brown”) and...