Food consumption patterns in St. James - abstract

ABSTRACT

A household survey was conducted in March 1982 using a stratified random sample the population in 3 ecological zones urban (U), Rural Lowland (RL, <1000 feet), and Rural Upland (RU, >1000 feet). Households with 10 acres of land and children over 3 years were excluded. This paper examines the patterns of food consumption and assesses the adequacy of the household's consumption by use of 24-hour recall conducted by trained Community Health Aides. One hundred and three different items were reported from the 301 households in the U (N = 82), RL (N = 118), RU (N = 101) zones. Fifteen items used by at least 15 percent of the sample contributed 80.8 percent and 68.7 percent to total calories and protein respectively, in the parish, Cereals contributed 32.3 percent, 36.5 percent and 30.5 percent to total calories while root crops contributed 12.7 percent, 15.0 percent and 33.2 percent in U, RL and RU respectively. The average househeld calorie satisfaction was not significantly different for the 3 zones (106 percent), 104 percent, 110 percent) nor the proportion of households with < 80 percent calorie satisfaction. The mean protein energy per cent was 13.7 ñ 2.3 for urban, 11.7 ñ 2.8 and 10.8 ñ 2.8 for the RL and RU zones respectively (p<.001). Households spending > J$3.00/2000Kcal were 63.4 percent in urban, 55.9 percent and 56.4 percent in RL and RU zones. The average weekly food expenditure per person was J$17.2 ñ 9.1, J$13.4 ñ 7.5 and J$14.6 ñ 7.2 (p<0.5) expressed as percentage of total expenditure 52.7 percent, 66.2 percent, and 75.3 percent, in the U, RL and RU zones (p<.01). Elasticity of demand for calories consumption was negative in the urban area (r bar to second power = 0.360; p<.001) and positive in the combined rural zones (r bar to second power = 0.502, p<.001). Certain implications are suggested byu the data 1. Very few food items can be used to construct a food basket which could be monitored once or twice yearly. 1. The urban dwellers consumed more "luxury" items hence more expensive calories than the rural dwellers. 3. Increased income has different effects on calorie consumption depending on income class and geographical location (AU)