ABSTRACT
Food insecurity may be associated with poor nutrition, which in turn can increase the risk of adverse nutrition and health outcomes among infants and toddlers. This study was undertaken in 2008 to gain an insight of mothers' views on complementary feeding practices and food security. In this qualitative study, data were collected through 10 Focus Group Discussions [FGDs] with groups of mothers who had under two-year-old children in the urban areas of Damavand [7 FGDs; n=51] and Varamin [3 FGDs; n=29]. Each FGD was held in the presence of a moderator, two note takers, and an observer. All notes were collected, and the emerging themes were reported. In the study, nine general themes were identified: 1] The mothers viewed adequate food as a food, which is useful for health in both quality and quantity; 2] Households have limited access to adequate food because they cannot afford it; 3] In hard situations, household's strategies are: changing the type and amount of food, and buying cheaper foods; 4] In case of poverty, mothers abstain from eating to save food for their children; 5] The mothers viewed complementary feeding as soft, simple and light foods, which are especially made for children; 6] The best time for introducing complementary feeding was 6 months of age; 7] There were no complementary local foods in the region; 8] For under one-year-old children, a different type of food was separately prepared; 9] Home-made complementary food was preferred over the readymade type. Despite mothers' sufficient knowledge about the advantages of complementary feeding, the majority of them had not good performance. This qualitative study provides a foundation and valuable information for future studies on the nutritional health of children in food insecure households
ABSTRACT
In this descriptive cross-sectional study 14 national basketball team players attending the preparatory camp for the Asian games with mean age of 25.6 +/- 3.1 yrs, height of 191 +/- 6 cm, weightt of 87.3 +/- 8.1 kg and BMI of 23.9 +/- 1.7 were surveyed. The subjects underwent anthropometric, aerobic power, body fat content and VO[2] max measurements in three stages of the training period [before training, during training and before the actual competition]. In two stages [before and during training] nutritional assessment and food intake using weighing method in 7 intermittent days was made. Anthropometric measurements showed body weight and BMI changes during the period of study to be negligible and non-significant. Subcutaneous fat was reduced significantly [p<0.02]. Also VO [2] max increased appreciably [p<0.001] from 42.3 +/- 3.3 in the first stage to 44.3 +/- 4.4 and 44.5 +/- 2.2 mL/Kg body weight per minute in the second and third stage respectively which demonstrates the positive role of exercise on maximum oxygen uptake or VO [2]max. The results of quanititative food intake assessment showed the energy intake to be at 3900 kcal per day. At this stage carbohydrate, fat and protein provided 50, 35 and 15% of energy respectively. In the second stage energy intake was 3600 keal with 55, 30 and 15% of energy coming from cardohydrate, fat and protein respectively which were in the normal range in both stages. Regarding vitamins and minerals, intake of iron, calcium and ascorbic acid was above the range, while thiamin, riboflavin and niacin were within the range and vitamin A as well as B [6] were below the recommended levels. Further research regarding nutrient intake monitoring, nutrition education of athletes and coaches as well as international nutrition researchhh offering a defined menu in preparatory camps is necessary