Nutritional status and feeding patterns of rural preschool Zambian children living in different ecological areas

Nutritional status and dietary intake of 1088 children (age 0-5 years) livi ng in rural Zambia were examined. Two ecologically different areas in Samfy a District were studied: the Bangweulu Swamps, a fishing-focused area, and the Mainland of the district, an agricultural oriented area. Prevalence of underweight and wasting was significantly higher in children living in the Swamps compared to those on the Mainland. Prevalence of stunting and underw eight increased rapidly with age from three to six months onwards. A signif icantly lower frequency of consumption of nutritionally important food grou ps was observed in children living in the Swamps compared to those on the M ainland. All children from zero to 12 months of age were breast-fed; supple mentary feeding started mostly at three to six months of age. The higher pr evalence of underweight and wasting in children living in the Swamps compar ed to those on the Mainland, may be explained by a less adequate diet and o ther consequences of living in an underprivileged environment.