Inadequate dietary intake is not the cause of stunting amongst young children living in an informal settlement in Gauteng and rural Limpopo Province in South Africa: the NutriGro study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure dietary intakes of young children aged 12-24 months and to determine the impact of poor diets on stunting.


METHODS
A quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was adapted, tested and standardised. Trained enumerators conducted in-depth interviews with the mothers/caregivers of the children. Forty stunted children in urban informal settlements and 30 stunted children in rural areas were selected and pair-matched with controls. The data were captured on the Food Finder Program of the Medical Research Council.


RESULTS
In both urban and rural areas, the diet of stunted and non-stunted groups did differ significantly and all diets were of poor nutritional quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Diets in both areas resembled the recommended prudent diet, i.e. low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Poor quality diets were not the primary cause of stunting.
Theron
M
M
Department of Hospitality Management, Faculty of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. TheronM@tut.ac.za
Amissah
A
A
Kleynhans
I C
IC
Albertse
E
E
MacIntyre
U E
UE
D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012423:Rural Health; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients