Ahmed Abdel Magied; Elizabeth Albert Bambu, Flora Frezar Kenyi and Jackline Aquilino Itira (2007). Assessment of Nutritional Status & Identification of Health Risk Factors of Elderly Women (Bari & Latuka tribes in Juba).

Magied, Ahmed Abdel

Ahmed Abdel Magied; Elizabeth Albert Bambu, Flora Frezar Kenyi and Jackline Aquilino Itira (2007). Assessment of Nutritional Status & Identification of Health Risk Factors of Elderly Women (Bari&Latuka tribes in Juba). School of Health Sciences, Ahfad University for Women. Omdurman.

This research aimed to study the nutritional status of elderly women in Southern Sudan in both Bari and Latuka tribes (55 years and above).

The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional status of the elderly women in both Bari and Latuka tribes and to identify the health risk factors. The study utilized primary data and secondary data.

The samples selected were three hundred (300) elderly women, whereby one hundred and fifty (150) were elderly Bari women and one hundred and fifty (150) were latuka elderly women. The nutritional status of the respondents was assessed by measuring their Body Mass Index (BMI).

The results obtained revealed the presence of alarming malnutrition (32-40%) in Bari and Latuka women. The majority of respondents had physical disabilities and most of them were not emotionally stable. This was due to inadequate food intake, because of unemployment, expensive food to purchase and loss of interest in food due to depression. It was recommended that special feeding programmes and nutritional education should be provided for elderly persons as an immediate step.

However, comprehensive plans and immediate interventions, by the regional and federal governments should be implemented to alleviate the neglected poverty situation.