Diet and nutritional status of pre-school children and nutritional awareness of the mothers of urban slums of Hyderabad
Vijayadurgamba, E.; Geervani, P.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics 46(372): 8-12
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5456 PMID: 437857 DOI: 10.1007/bf02827059Document Number: 239681
As part of a special feeding programme in the urban slums of Hyderabad, the dietary pattern and nutritional status of 250 preschool children 2 to 5 years old were studied; the monthly income of the families was from 100 to 300 rupees. Of the children 94% were breast fed until 2 years old. Of the mothers 50% said that they had stopped breast feeding because of a subsequent pregnancy, and 23% because of insufficient milk. Of the children 25% had received some supplementary food by 6 months, and 67% by 12 months old. The most usual supplementary foods were biscuits, sweets, rotis and rice. The food intake of the children assessed by the 24-h food recall method was much less than that recommended. Protein was chiefly from cereal sources and there was a low intake of vegetables and fruits. Weight and height were much below standard, particularly weight. The chest/head circumference at 4 was the same as that at 2 years old, 1.02. The weight/height2 X 100 value was 0.14 at 2 and 0.15 at 3 and 4 years old. Of the children 2 years old 28% and of those 4 years old 21% had protein-energy malnutrition. Deficiency of B vitamins was more prevalent than that of vitamin A. The nutritional awareness of the mother was also investigated by questionnaire. Their concepts on weaning, nutrient losses during cooking and diet during illness were generally incorrect. No correlation was observed between family income and nutritional awareness of the mother.
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