Food and health practices of elderly people in two communes: Antsirabe I and Andranomanelatra – Vakinankaratra Region (Madagascar)

The elderly population represents a group at risk of nutritional problems. Therefore, it is essential that their diet be healthy and correct to maintain a good state of health. A descriptive retrospective study of food and health practices of people aged 60 and over was carried out in the urban commune of Antsirabe I and the rural commune of Andranomanelatra in the Vakinankaratra Region in Madagascar.

The results showed that seniors eat at least three times a day (morning, noon, evening). Rice was the staple food, and dried tilapia was the most consumed source of protein in rural areas (87.5%). In the two areas studied, the protein intake was insufficient in 91.7% of people, and the lipid intake was insufficient in all individuals surveyed. The majority had a medium individual dietary diversity score (68.8% in rural areas and 78.6% in urban areas). The elderly people interviewed were concerned about their health quality. However, hygiene practices regarding the treatment of drinking water and hand washing before each meal were not satisfactory. The evaluation of the nutritional status showed that 37.5% of people were underweight (BMI < 18.5) in rural areas, against 17.9% in urban areas. The factors associated with nutritional status were the level of education, the housing comfort index, the estimated monthly income, food expenditure, the individual dietary diversity score, and the average energy intake.