Prevalence of malnutrition and dietary habits of preschoolers in a rural Guatemalan village

Environmental factors and their effect on the nutritional status of 62 preschool Guatemalan children were studied. Mothers of the children were interviewed about their children's eating habits and all the children were weighed and measured. Children were weaned between the ages of three and 30 months. Foods fed to children are reported and local foods are described. Family characteristics are reported. The age at which first supplementary food was given, the number of living children in the family, the intergestational period before subject's birth, and the weaning age statistically helped predict nutritional status of these children. Niether weaning age nor age of first supplementary food introduction could be shown to statistically explain nutritional status. Other environmental factors need furthern study.

Key words:

• malnutrition
• Guatemala
• preschool
• height
• weight
• Ladino
• rural