Health

Permanent URI for this collection

https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/1262

Browse

Browsing Health by Subject "Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Domestic science and nutrition"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Breastfeeding practices in New Zealand during the first year postpartum
    (Massey University, 2014) Jia, Ruimin
    There is a lack of research observing breastfeeding (BF) practices in detail globally and in New Zealand (NZ). This longitudinal study examined BF patterns and the association between BF duration and frequency per day in NZ infants from the birth to 12 months old. A total of 61 self-selected women in the Manawatu region were recruited during the last stage of pregnancy. The average age was 32.1±0.6 years. BF practices were obtained by 24-hour recall noting all of the infant‘s activities through a telephone interview. The interviews were conducted at approximately 2 weeks after birth and then at 2 weekly intervals during the first three months, and then once per month until the infants first birthday. Results show that the majority of infants during the first four weeks postpartum were fully BF (81% at two weeks & 82% at four weeks), 8% infants were mixed-fed and 10% had stopped BF by four weeks. At 16 weeks, 61% infants were fully BF, and 9% infants had been introduced to complementary foods (CF). At 24 weeks, most infants (93%) were no longer fully BF and 24% were receiving no breastmilk. At 48 weeks, 48% infants had stopped BF. Regarding BF patterns, throughout the first 48 weeks postpartum there was a wide variation of BF frequency/day, the longest interval between BF and the length of BF sessions. For example, at two weeks fully BF infants were fed from 5-21 times/day (interquartile range (IQR): 8-10 times/day); at 48 weeks BF infants receiving CF had from 1-22 breastfeeds/day (IQR: 3-8.3 times/day). For the longest interval between BF, at two weeks for fully BF infants the longest interval ranged from 3-10 hours (IQR:4.3-5.5 hours), and at 48 weeks for BF infants receiving CF the longest interval ranged from 3-24 hours (IQR:6.4-12.5 hours). The length of BF session, at two weeks ranged from 2-205 minutes/feed (IQR: 12-30 minutes) for fully BF infants, and at 48 weeks ranged from 4-85 minutes/feed (IQR: 5-15 minutes) for BF infants receiving CF. At the majority of observations there was a significantly lower BF frequency/day and longer longest interval between breastfeeds for mixed-fed infants compared to infants who were fully BF (p<0.05). For instance, at four weeks, median BF frequency/day for mixed-fed infants was five times/day, and for fully breastfed infants ten times/day; at 16 weeks the median BF frequency, for mixed-fed infants was 6.5 times/day, and for fully breastfed infants 9.5 times. At four weeks, the median of the longest interval between breastfeeds for mixed-fed infants was 8.5 hours, and for fully breastfed infants five hours; at 16 weeks, for mixed-fed infants the median was 11.8 hours, and for fully breastfed infants 6.2 hours. There was generally no significant difference in the length of BF sessions between these two groups (p>0.05). There was a significantly positive, but weak correlation between BF duration and BF frequency/day at two weeks (p<0.01; r=0.352) and four weeks (p<0.01; r=0.404), and between BF duration and BF frequency/day of fully BF infants at four weeks (p<0.05; r=0.289). There was no significant correlation between duration of BF/fully BF and maternal and infant characteristics, with the exception of parity (there was a positive association between parity of two or more and BF duration, p<0.05). Case studies were made of four participants who were still breastfeeding their babies at 48 weeks and whose frequency of feeding in the first four weeks after birth was outside of the often recommended 8-12 times/day. Results show that their BF practices varied widely between women during 48 weeks. BF frequency and the total length of BF sessions decreased over time. For two infants who had higher BF frequency in the first four weeks, BF frequency remained relatively high through the end of the first year. For another two infants who had lower BF frequency in the first four weeks, BF frequency remained relatively low through the end of the first year. For all cases, the total length of BF sessions per day did not generally fluctuate with the changes of BF frequency. In conclusion, this longitudinal study supplies a detailed picture of BF practices by 24-hour recall. Results show that almost half infants had stopped BF by 48 weeks. There is a wide variation of BF practices associated with successful BF. Therefore, individuals‘ particularity should be considered when making suggestions to the mother. Overall, this thesis may contribute to the literature on BF practices in NZ.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Vitamin D status and relationship between vitamin D and risk factors of metabolic syndrome : a study in Taiyuan City in China : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Manawatu, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Yan, Xiaoning
    Background Vitamin D deficiency is widespread, and the residents in Taiyuan City in China seem to be at high risk of vitamin D deficiency. The situation might be because the city is located in north China and air pollution in the city is heavy. Meanwhile, emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which usually progress to diabetes and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. MetS has been becoming much more common in China, and even affects younger people. Objectives This study investigated the vitamin D status of non-manual workers living in Taiyuan City; and explored the relationship between vitamin D status and markers of MetS in 200 participants attending the Health 100 Check-up Center in Taiyuan City for their usual health check. Methods In this cross-sectional study; 200 non-manual workers aged 20-80 years old, living in Taiyuan City were recruited. The participants had their serum vitamin D levels measured and were asked questions about their lifestyle, including daily exercise, alcohol use and smoking. The Check-up Center provided data relating to MetS of the participants. These data included anthropometrics (height, weight and body circumferences), biochemical data (lipid profiles and fasting glucose from blood samples taken for the check-up) and blood pressure. Results Seventy eight percent of participants had vitamin D values less than 50 nmol/L. The women’s serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status (median; 32.70 nmol/L (upper and lower quartile; 25.80, 43.80)) was significantly lower than that of the men (44.00 nmol/L (32.30, 55.40)) (p<0.01). In females aged younger than 40 years vitamin D status (29.25 nmol/L (24.05, 40.85)) was significantly lower than older participants (age>65). In the present study, multiple linear regressions showed the determinants of the vitamin D status were female gender, smoking, and increased fasting glucose (p<0.05). The prevalence of MetS, or abdominal obesity between the groups with and without vitamin D insufficiency were not significantly different (p=0.08; p=0.07). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that vitamin D status was not associated with MetS. Conclusions Vitamin D insufficiency was highly prevalent in non-manual workers in Taiyuan City in China during the winter season. Vitamin D status in the women was lower than the men. Among the females, younger women had worse vitamin D status than the older women. So, in the present study, female gender, increased fasting glucose, and smoking were significant determinants for vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency was not associated with the risk factors for MetS in the present study. However, female gender, increased waist circumference (WC), and raised serum triglycerides were associated with higher risk of MetS.