*Co esponding au ho : Gnelle Assi a Coulibaly
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License 4.0.
Analysis o he Nu i ional In ake o B eas eeding Mo he s in Cô e d’I oi e:
Challenges and Pe spec i es o Ma e nal and Child Heal h
Gnelle Assi a Coulibaly 1, *, Aud ey He be Yépié 1, Na y Tadiogo Koné 2, Anin L. Anin-A chib i 1 and Adjehi
Dadié 2
1 Depa men o Food Sciences and Technology, Labo a o y o Nu i ion and Food Sa e y, Nangui Ab ogoua Uni e si y, 02
B.P. 801 Abidjan 02, Cô e d’I oi e.
2 Depa men o Food Sciences and Technology, Labo a o y o Mic obiology and Bio echnology o Food, Nangui Ab ogoua
Uni e si y, 02 B.P. 801 Abidjan 02, Cô e d’I oi e.
GSC Biological and Pha maceu ical Sciences, 2025, 33(01), 134-145
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 06 Sep embe 2025; e ised on 10 Oc obe 2025; accep ed on 13 Oc obe 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/gscbps.2025.33.1.0396
Abs ac
A balanced die du ing b eas eeding is essen ial o mee he inc eased needs o lac a ing mo he s and o ensu e high-
quali y b eas milk. Howe e , such a die is o en inadequa e and insu icien . This s udy aims o assess he nu i ional
in ake o b eas eeding women in Cô e d’I oi e and i s implica ions o ma e nal and child heal h. A su ey was
conduc ed among 300 b eas eeding mo he s in heal h cen e s loca ed in Abobo, Cocody, Po -Bouë , Dabou, and
Bonoua. Nu i ional needs we e calcula ed using he Mülle equa ion, and in akes we e es ima ed h ough biochemical
ood analysis and he Nu isu ey 2007 so wa e. Resul s showed ha mo he s had an a e age ene gy in ake o 2157.97
kcal/day, signi ican ly below he es ima ed equi emen o 3629.43 kcal/day. On a e age, in akes co e ed 63.27% o
lipid needs, 30.81% o p o ein needs, and 61.35% o ca bohyd a e needs. Th ee-qua e s o he mo he s had insu icien
in ake o ene gy and mac onu ien s. Signi ican de ici s we e obse ed in polyunsa u a ed a y acids (9.36 g s. 17.97
g) and ibe (20.1 g s. 25 g). Calcium and zinc in akes we e inadequa e o all mo he s. Only 5 o 10% o women aged
16 o 34 me he ecommended in akes o po assium and i on. Con e sely, phospho us was consumed in excess by
80% o pa icipan s. De iciencies in i amins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, C, and E we e obse ed in 75 o 90% o he pa icipan s.
These esul s e eal widesp ead nu i ional insu iciency among b eas eeding women in he s udied popula ion.
Keywo ds: B eas eeding mo he s; Nu i ional in ake; Die ; Ma e nal and child heal h; Cô e d’I oi e
1. In oduc ion
B eas eeding is he op imal mode o nu i ion o in an s, p o iding a comple e supply o essen ial nu ien s needed o
hei g ow h and de elopmen . B eas milk, ecognized by he Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion as he gold s anda d o he
i s six mon hs o li e, no only suppo s apid g ow h bu also con ibu es o he ma u a ion o he immune sys em due
o i s ichness in biologically ac i e subs ances [1]. The nu i ional quali y o b eas milk di ec ly depends on he
mo he 's nu i ional s a us, whose needs inc ease signi ican ly du ing he b eas eeding pe iod [2]. A a ied and
balanced die is he e o e essen ial o sa egua d he heal h o bo h mo he and child [3]. Globally, public heal h policies
p omo e exclusi e b eas eeding while emphasizing he need o app op ia e nu i ional suppo o mo he s. In A ica,
se e al s udies ha e shown ha ma e nal die a y p ac ices a e o en inadequa e [4], he eby comp omising he quali y
o b eas milk and in an heal h [5].
In Cô e d’I oi e, he nu i ional in ake o b eas eeding women emains poo ly documen ed. This gap limi s he
de elopmen o a ge ed ecommenda ions adap ed o local eali ies. Thus, a be e unde s anding o hese nu i ional
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in akes is necessa y o guide ma e nal and child heal h in e en ions. This s udy is based on he hypo hesis ha he
nu i ional in ake o b eas eeding mo he s in Cô e d’I oi e is insu icien and unbalanced in ela ion o ecommended
physiological needs. I aims o assess hese in akes, compa e hem o e e ence nu i ional equi emen s, and iden i y
hei implica ions o ma e nal and in an heal h. Speci ically, he objec i es a e: (i) o es ima e he nu i ional needs o
b eas eeding women; (ii) o analyze hei ac ual die a y in ake; and (iii) o iden i y nu i ional de iciencies o excesses.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
2.1. S udy Type and Se ing
This was a c oss-sec ional s udy wi h bo h desc ip i e and analy ical pu poses. I was conduc ed in h ee (03) heal h
acili ies in Abidjan. The selec ed acili ies included he Houphouë Boigny Gene al Hospi al loca ed in he municipali y
o Abobo, he Hen ie e Konan Bédié Heal h Complex in Cocody-Blockhaus (Cocody municipali y), and he Po -Bouë
Gene al Hospi al in he municipali y o Po -Bouë . In Bonoua and Dabou, he s udy was ca ied ou a he Gene al
Hospi als o Bonoua and Dabou, espec i ely (Figu e 1).
Sou ce: Pe sonal, QGIS so wa e
Figu e 1 Geog aphic map showing he loca ion o he di e en si es
2.2. S udy Pe iod and Popula ion
The s udy was conduc ed om Sep embe 2019 o Decembe 2021. I in ol ed 300 b eas eeding mo he s.
2.3. Sampling and Pa icipan Selec ion
The sample size was de e mined using Daniel Schwa z's o mula :
n = sample size; Z = 1.96; q = 1 – p; i = 0.05
p = P e alence o me abolic diseases (0.235)
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A e calcula ion, he minimum sample size equi ed o a ep esen a i e sample was 276.24, meaning 276 indi iduals
o be su eyed. Fo he pu pose o his s udy, he sample size was adjus ed o 300 b eas eeding women, wi h a
dis ibu ion o 60 women pe heal h cen e . Included in he s udy we e all b eas eeding mo he s aged be ween 15 and
45 yea s, a ending he s udy si es, appa en ly in good heal h, and who had gi en hei in o med consen .
2.4. Nu i ional Su ey
This s udy equi ed a c oss-sec ional su ey. Da a collec ion was ca ied ou h ough ace- o- ace in e iews using
ques ionnai es. The in o ma ion collec ed conce ned sociodemog aphic ac o s and he die a y in ake o b eas eeding
women.
2.5. Va iable Selec ion
The sociodemog aphic a iables s udied included sex, age, le el o educa ion, ma i al s a us, and occupa ion. Die a y
in ake was assessed using he 24-hou ecall me hod o e h ee non-consecu i e days, allowing he de e mina ion o
he quan i y o ood consumed pe woman and by ype o meal. This me hod is used o e alua e ene gy and nu ien
in ake [6]. Daily in akes o mac onu ien s and mic onu ien s we e es ima ed using s anda d ood analysis me hods,
as well as ood composi ion so wa e and ood composi ion ables.
2.6. Es ima ion o Ene gy and Nu ien In akes
In o de o limi biases ela ed o egional and seasonal a ia ions as well as nu ien losses du ing cooking, a
biochemical analysis was ca ied ou on ce ain local dishes commonly consumed by he esponden s. These dishes, he
mos equen ly consumed by he a ge popula ion, included s aple oods ( ice, ou ou banana, a iéké, and Kaba o de
maïs), sauces (eggplan sauce, peanu sauce, Vege able sauce, and ok a sauce), as well as p o ein sou ces (mea and ish)
(Figu e 2 e Table I). Each dish was sampled in iplica e in he h ee a eas o Abidjan, o a o al o 36 dishes. The alues
ob ained om hese analyses we e en e ed in o he Nu isu ey so wa e, e sion 2007. P io o his, o he dishes
consumed by he mo he s we e also en e ed in o he so wa e, based on he quan i ies consumed. Fo Wes A ican
oods no included in he Nu isu ey da abase, he Wes A ican Food Composi ion Table was used o be e e lec he
s udy con ex . Thus, he nu i ional composi ion o he iden i ied oods was impo ed in o Nu isu ey o complemen
and e ine he analysis. Nu isu ey uses linea p og amming o au oma ically calcula e he nu ien in ake o each
ood, he eby allowing o an accu a e es ima ion o daily nu i ional in akes.
Figu e 2 Mos Commonly Consumed Local Dishes
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Table 1 Mos Commonly Consumed Local Dishes and Thei Cha ac e is ics
Local Dishes
Nu i ional Cha ac e is ics
Vege able sauce
Sauce made om oma o, onion, chili peppe , cabbage, zucchini...
ok a sauce
Sauce made om esh o d ied ok a, g ound in o powde (Abelmoschus esculen us)
peanu sauces
Sauce made om peanu pas e. A achis hypogaea
Sauce aube gine
Sauce made om Eggplan (Solanum To um)
Kaba o de maïs
Co nmeal cooked in wa e (Zea mays)
A iéké
S eamed cassa a semolina (Maniho esculen a)
Fou ou banana
Plan ain banana (Musa pa adisiaca) and cassa a (Maniho esculen a) cooked in wa e and hen
pounded
2.7. Biochemical Composi ion o Meals
All analyses we e ca ied ou in iplica e. The con en s o d y ma e , lipids, p o eins, ash, and die a y ibe we e
de e mined in acco dance wi h he me hod desc ibed by AOAC, 2000 [7]. Ca bohyd a e con en was es ima ed by
di e en ial calcula ion [8]. The ene gy alue was calcula ed using he equa ion de ined by he me abolizable ene gy
con e sion coe icien , also known as he gene al A wa e ac o s [9]. The mine al p o ile o he samples was de e mined
using a Scanning Elec on Mic oscope (SEM).
2.8. De e mina ion o he Nu i ional Requi emen s o Lac a ing Mo he s
The daily calo ic needs o lac a ing women we e calcula ed using he equa ion o Mülle e al. (2004) [10], wi h a physical
ac i i y le el anging be ween 1.5 and 2.2 [11]. Mac onu ien equi emen s o lac a ing mo he s we e calcula ed based
on hei o al ene gy needs. Ca bohyd a es accoun ed o 50 o 55% o o al ene gy in ake (TEI), p o eins o 12 o 15%,
and lipids o 30 o 35% o TEI [12]. As o mic onu ien s, daily mic onu ien in akes we e compa ed wi h he
nu i ional ecommenda ions o Anses (2019) [12].
2.9. Da a Analysis
IBM SPSS S a is ics e sion 20.0 was used o p ocess he su ey da a, which was based on he calcula ion o means.
2.10. E hical Conside a ions
The p o ocol o his s udy was app o ed by he Na ional E hics Commi ee o Li e Sciences and Heal h o Cô e d’I oi e
(CNESVS), unde e e ence numbe N°107-22/MSHPCMU/CNESVS-kp. In o med consen was ob ained om all
pa icipan s p io o hei inclusion in he s udy.
3. Resul s
3.1. Wa e In ake
Figu es 3 and 4 show he da a on wa e in ake. The esul s e eal ha he majo i y o mo he s, ega dless o hei age
g oup, consumed be ween 1 and 1.5 li e s o wa e pe day: 55.74% among hose aged 16–24, 54.48% among hose
aged 25–34, and 58% among hose aged 35–45. On he o he hand, a signi ican p opo ion o mo he s had a wa e
in ake o less han one li e : 27.87% o he 16–24 age g oup, 16.42% o he 25–34 g oup, and 14% o he 35–45
g oup. Only 16.39%, 29.1%, and 28% o mo he s aged 16–24, 25–34, and 35–45 espec i ely d ank mo e han 1.5 li e s
o wa e pe day. Mo eo e , he a e age wa e in ake om ood was 1309.66 ± 420.21 mL, wi h espec i e in akes o
1341.396 mL, 1304.433 mL, and 1258.069 mL o he 16–24, 25–34, and 35–45 age g oups.
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Figu e 3 Dis ibu ion o mo he s acco ding o he amoun o wa e consumed pe day
Figu e 4 Dis ibu ion o mo he s acco ding o he amoun o wa e p o ided by ood
3.2. Co e age o Ene gy and Mac onu ien Requi emen s
O e all, he mo he s did no mee hei ene gy equi emen s, excep o 25% o hose aged 16–24 and 25–34 who
managed o mee hal o hei needs. As o mac onu ien s, p o ein equi emen s we e no me by he mo he s,
ega dless o hei age g oup. Howe e , ca bohyd a e and lipid equi emen s we e be e co e ed by he younge
mo he s. In ac , 25% o mo he s aged 16–24 and 25–34 me hei lipid and ca bohyd a e equi emen s, unlike hei
35–45-yea -old coun e pa s who me only a po ion (hal ) o none o hei espec i e lipid and ca bohyd a e needs
(Figu e 5).
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Figu e 5 Ene gy and mac onu ien in ake and equi emen s o mo he s by age g oup
3.3. Co e age o PUFA, Choles e ol, and Fibe Requi emen s
The esul s show ha 75% o he mo he s did no mee hei ibe equi emen (25 g). Mo eo e , he majo i y o
mo he s (80 o 100%) had daily in akes o PUFAs and choles e ol below he espec i e ecommenda ions o 11.98 o
23.97 g and 300 mg (Figu e 6).
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Figu e 6 Fibe , PUFA, and choles e ol in ake acco ding o mo he s' age
3.4. Mic onu ien Requi emen Co e age
The esul s on mine al equi emen co e age showed ha calcium and zinc needs we e no me by he mo he s,
ega dless o age g oup. As o po assium and i on, only 5 o 10% o mo he s aged 16–24 and 25–34 me hei needs,
unlike mo he s aged 35–45. Magnesium equi emen s, howe e , we e me by abou 50% o he mo he s ac oss all age
g oups. Fu he mo e, phospho us in ake in he majo i y o mo he s (80%) was signi ican ly highe han he
equi emen s ac oss all age g oups (Figu e 7).
Rega ding i amin A, B2, and B9 equi emen s, hey we e no me by he mo he s in any age g oup. On he o he hand,
only 10 o 25% o mo he s aged 16–24 and 25–34 me hei equi emen s o i amins B1, B6, C, and E, while hei 35–
45-yea -old coun e pa s me li le (5 o 10%) o none o hei espec i e needs o i amins B6, C, B1, and E (Figu e 8).
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Figu e 7 Mine al in ake acco ding o mo he s' age
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Figu e 8 Vi amin in ake acco ding o mo he s' age
4. Discussion
This s udy aimed o assess he nu i ional in ake o b eas eeding women in Cô e d’I oi e and i s implica ions o
ma e nal and child heal h. The esul s e eal se e al conce ning de iciencies, bo h in e ms o hyd a ion and nu i ion.
Rega ding hyd a ion, 71.67% o he mo he s consumed be ween 1 and 1.5 li e s o wa e pe day, which alls below
in e na ional ecommenda ions. Indeed, he Ins i u e o Medicine ecommends a o al wa e in ake o 3.3 L/day o
lac a ing women [13]. In China, his alue is se a 3.8 L/day [14, 15], while he Eu opean Food Sa e y Au ho i y
ecommends a o al in ake o 2.7 L/day, including abou 1.7 L om be e ages and 1 L om ood sou ces [16]. In ou
sample, he a e age wa e in ake om ood was 1309.66 ± 420.21 mL, hus exceeding he EFSA’s ood-based in ake
ecommenda ion. Al hough be e age in ake was lowe han ecommended, o e all hyd a ion could be conside ed
accep able. Howe e , due o a iabili y in he guidelines, d awing de ini i e conclusions emains unce ain. Fu he
s udies ailo ed o he con ex o Cô e d’I oi e a e necessa y o es ablish app op ia e local s anda ds.
