Dietary Pattern and Nutrient Intake of Chinese Women in Northern Ireland

This presentation is part of : Women's Health

Fenglin Guo, MSc, School of Nursing, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom and Marion E. Wright, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom.

The objectives of this study are: to investigate the dietary patterns of Chinese women in NI, and if their nutrient intakes are adequate compare to Dietary Reference Value (DRV), to explore the factors that influence the dietary patterns. Design: Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in this study. Methodology: A sample of 50 non-pregnant Chinese women currently living in NI, aged between 18 and 50 years old, were collected in 2003. Interviews, open-ended questionnaires and focus group interviews were used to obtain qualitative data. A 24-hour dietary recall method assisted with a SF-36 health status questionnaire were used to obtain quantitative data. Netwisp 2.0 software was used to analyse the nutrient intakes. Data was coded into and analysed by SPSS (11.0). Findings: Qualitative data showed about 28.5% of the participants understand a little English, 30.6% of them expressed having difficulties to get their favourite foods, 28.5% of them believed living in NI cannot get equal nutrients as home, 26.6% of them suffered from chronic disease. The nutrient intakes compared to DRV showed that, Protein, Energy, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Selenium, Iodine and Folate intake are less than RNI, while Sodium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Niacin, Vit A, Vit B1, Vit B6, Vit B12, Vit C have reached RNI. SF-36 results showed the physical health status of the participants are at the average of the population in UK, mental health status are below the average.

Conclusions: Findings suggested that Chinese women in NI can not access plenty health information. Dietary patterns varied according to different occupation and the length of residence in NI. Nutrients intake, such as some minerals and trace elements intake, are not sufficient. Their dietary intake structure is also not reasonable. Implications: Dietary advice and health promotion services for Chinese women in NI need to be reinforced.

Learning Objective #1: Identify the dietary patterns of Chinese women in Northern Ireland
Learning Objective #2: Gain knowledge on the possible nutrient deficiencies for both general population and ethnic minority groups