Dietary patterns and dietary adequacy of highland Pwo and Sgaw Karen of northwest Thailand

The present study compared the dietary patterns, dietary adequacy, and anthropometric indices of nutritional status of mothers and their weaned children during three measurement periods (post‐harvest, pre‐harvest, and harvest) between Pwo and Sgaw Karen Highlanders residing in northwest Thailand. Pwo mothers and their weaned children tended to have significantly less diverse diets than their Sgaw counterparts. As a result, the post‐harvest %RDIs for calories, protein, and seven nutrients were all significantly greater in Sgaw mothers and their weaned children than in their Pwo counterparts. Examination of anthropometric indices of nutritional status indicated a high level of stunting in both groups, but with significantly more stunting among the Pwo than the Sgaw. The superior nutritional status of the Sgaw appears to be primarily due to the combined effects of a higher socioeconomic status and a greater contact with modern society.

Key words:

• Dietary patterns
• dietary adequacy
• nutritional status
• Karen
• Thailand
• modernity