Food consumption of young stunted and non-stunted children in rural Zambia

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of diet of rural Zambian pre-school children, and to compare the dietary intake of stunted and non-stunted children. Design: Cross-sectional study, in which dietary intake was assessed with a 24-h recall method. Height and weight were measured according to standard p rocedures. Setting: Twelve villages in Samfya District, Zambia. Subjects: Children aged 6-9 months ('infants') and 14-20 months ('toddlers' ), attending Mother-and-Child Health Clinics, were eligible for study. Excl uded were: 12 wasted, and 18 for other reasons. In total 106 infants and 99 toddlers were included. Results: In infants and toddlers, total daily intake of energy, calcium, ir on, and vitamin A was insufficient compared to recommended daily intakes. O nly infants had insufficient protein intake. Compared to intake from weanin g foods, breast milk was the main source of energy and most nutrients for i nfants. For toddlers, weaning foods were more important. Stunted infants an d toddlers tended to have lower intakes of energy compared to non-stunted a ge-mates. Daily energy intake per kg bodyweight showed no difference betwee n stunted and non-stunted children. Conclusions: Overall quality of weaning foods was inadequate. Stunted infan ts and toddlers showed a tendency of lower energy intakes compared to non-s tunted age-mates.