CULTURAL-FACTORS, CALORIC-INTAKE AND MICRONUTRIENT SUFFICIENCY IN RURAL NEPALI HOUSEHOLDS

This study examined the allocation of food within 105 Nepali household s using a combination of recall and observation methods. While a relat ionship exists between caloric intake and sufficiency of intake of sev eral key micronutrients (i.e., beta carotene, vitamin C and iron) for the study population as a whole, this relationship is weaker for certa in subgroups. in particular, micronutrient intakes of adolescent girls and adult women are much less likely to be tied to total caloric cons umption when compared with the intakes of other household members. Thi s gender differential appears linked in part to specific food beliefs and practices that tend to reduce women's consumption of micronutrient -rich foods, such as dietary restrictions during menstruation, pregnan cy and lactation. Overlapping with these beliefs and practices, an ove rall pattern of disfavoritism of females in the intrahousehold allocat ion of food is evident in the study communities. While staple food ite ms (i.e. rice, lentil soup, bread, etc.) are distributed fairly equall y, side dishes usually containing a higher proportion of micronutrient s (i.e. vegetables, meat, yogurt, ghee, etc.) are often preferentially allocated to valued household members, including adult males and smal l children (of both sexes). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.