Nutritional status and dietary practices of 4-24-month-old children from a rural South African community.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the nutritional status and dietary practices of 4-24-month-old children (under-twos) in a rural South African community.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
A low socioeconomic rural African community (Ndunakazi), approximately 60 km north-west of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.


METHODS
Children (n = 115), 4-24 months old who attended growth monitoring posts in the area.


RESULTS
Of these under-twos, 37.3% had low vitamin A status (serum retinol < 20 microg dl(-1)), 65.2% were anaemic, 43.2% had serum ferritin levels < 10 microg l(-1) (an indicator of low iron stores) and 15.3% were stunted. Breastfeeding was initiated by 99% of mothers. At the time of the survey, 80% of infants in the 4-12-month-old category and 56.9% of children in the 12-24-month-old category were being breastfed. Solid foods were introduced at 3.6 +/- 0.8 months. Food intake reflected a high intake of carbohydrate-rich foods, and irregular intakes of fruit and vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin A. Foods of animal origin were not consumed regularly. Of these under-twos, 15.9% experienced an episode of diarrhoea during 2 weeks prior to the survey.


CONCLUSIONS
These under-twos had a poor vitamin A and iron status. Nutrition education, intervention programmes and feeding schemes should address micronutrient deficiencies, with the focus on the quality of the diet, rather than quantity.
Faber
M
M
National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa. mfaber@mrc.ac.za
Benadé
A J
AJ
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
D005293:Ferritins