Speaker
Description
Background: A complex interplay of environmental and dietary exposures shapes child cognition and growth. While nutritional status is often assumed to mediate these effects, evidence on the relative importance of direct versus indirect pathways remains limited.
Objective: This study examined the direct and indirect relationships between climate exposures, dietary patterns, and child cognition and growth outcomes, focusing on the role of anthropometric indicators.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 110 infants aged 6-23 months in the East Mamprusi Municipality assessed socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometry, and food frequency using standard procedures: cognition and other developmental milestones were examined using the Caregiver-Reported Early Development Index. The study employed solar flux and meteorological datasets, including temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and radiation indices, from Janga, Ghana, using a Campbell Scientific CR6 datalogger installed during the WASCAL (WRAP 2.0) CONCERT project. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to estimate direct and indirect pathways between climate, diet, growth, and cognition.
Key Findings: Overall, the prevalence of stunting was 41.8%, underweight 19.1%, and wasting 17.2% while 88.2% experienced food insecurity. Five dietary patterns emerged. Elevated ambient temperature was negatively associated with cognition (β = -0.20, p < 0.001), while shortwave radiation predicted lower WHZ (β = -0.008, p = 0.021). Among dietary patterns, the milk- and formula-based diet was positively associated with cognition (β = 0.329, p = 0.023) and HAZ (β = 0.322, p = 0.017). A plant-based diet also strongly predicted higher cognition (β = 0.741, p < 0.001) and HAZ scores (β = 0.676, p = 0.005). The Cereal, Drink and Light meals pattern improved WAZ (β = 0.371, p = 0.020) and WHZ (β = 0.813, p = 0.003), while the Breast milk–dominant pattern enhanced cognition (β = 0.251, p = 0.043) and weight outcomes (p < 0.05). No significant indirect effects through growth indicators were found.
Implications: Climate exposures and dietary patterns directly effected child cognition and growth, while anthropometric indicators did not mediate these associations. Interventions should address environmental and dietary determinants directly, rather than assuming pathways operate solely through growth.
Keywords: Climate exposure, Cognition, malnutrition, underweight, Ghana, Structural Equation Modelling