DIETARY PATTERN AND NUTRIENTS INTAKE OF P RESCHOOL-CHILDREN OF 3 RURAL HAMLETS IN THE PROVINCE OF SANTA-ROSE, GUATEMALA

We present here the results of a nutritional survey to show the patter n of food consumption, as well as nutrient intake, of 303 pre-school c hildren (six to 71 months old) from three rural hamlets of the South-E ast region of Guatemala. This survey was performend prior to the estab lishment of a nutritional intervention in the same geographical area. Information was gathered from June through August 1991, by personnel f rom the Center for Studies of Sensory lmpairment, Aging. and Metabolis m (CeSSIAM) using two data collection instruments during home visits. Informats were mothers or other caretakers in charge of the children f eeding. Data collected were initially converted to individual food ite m weight, and then, to micronutrients values. These values were used t o establish their adequacy to standard requirements for children of th ese ages. Results showed a pattern in which corn tortilla, and beans w ere the most commonly consumed food items. Those items were also the r elatively most important sources of calories, protein, and iron. Vitam in A intake was low, and it came mainly From plant sources. Nutrients intake was below the recommended dietary allowances, except for protei n and iron.