ABSTRACT
This study examines the food consumption and nutritional status of pre-school children during the period March-April, at the end of the dry season in the Kano Plain of Nyanza Province. The diet of pre-school children in this region of Kenya consists foremost of maize and milk. Food consumption was generally low with considerable deficits in energy intake and other nutrients among all age groups, although protein intake was generally at recommended levels. The heights of the children did not differ from the available national and regional figures, but the weights of the children were far below earlier figures which must be related to the prevailing lean seasons. The youngest group in the sample, aged 6-12 months, showed the largest deficit in weight status. This group appears to suffer most from the seasonal imbalance. Overall the findings indicate that the seasonal deficits in this part of Kenya are more severe than was assumed until now.
PIP: This study examines the food consumption and nutritional status of preschool children during the period March-April, at the end of the dry season in the Kano Plain of Nyanza Province. Their diet in this region of Kenya consists mostly of maize and milk. Food consumption was generally low with considerable deficits in energy intake and other nutrients among all age groups, although protein intake was generally at the recommended levels. Heights of the children did not differ from the available national and regional figures, but the weights of the children were far below earlier figures; this seems to be related to the prevailing lean seasons. The youngest group in the sample, ages 6-12 months, showed the largest deficit in weight status. This group appears to suffer most from seasonal imbalance. Overall, the findings indicate that the seasonal deficits in this area of Kenya are more severe than was previously assumed.
Subject(s)
Agriculture , Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Seasons , Body Height , Body Weight , Breast Feeding , Child, Preschool , Diet , Eating , Humans , Infant , Kenya , Nutritional StatusSubject(s)
Carcinoma in Situ/epidemiology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adult , Age Factors , Family Practice , Female , Humans , NetherlandsABSTRACT
The intakes of energy, protein and calcium of 76 infants aged 6-12 months was investigated using a five day weighing record method. Average daily energy intake was 380 kJ/kg/day; the average daily intake of protein was 3.8 g/kg/day and the average calcium intake was 785 mg per day. Milk and milk products were the main source of these nutrients and supplied 41%, 59% and 83% respectively of the total daily intake of energy, protein and calcium. The weaning pattern was investigated retrospectively. At age of 6 months the infants were eating a variety of foods rich in protein and calcium.
