Infant Nutrition in a Poor Mayan Village of Yucatan is Related to an Energy Deficiency Diet That a Course on Nutrition Could Not Overcome

Abstract

We measured the weight and length of 84 infants from 1 to 60 months of age in a Mayan village. Length (HAZ) and weight (WAZ) standardized to age decreased rapidly after 4 to 6 months of age and continued falling through 60 months. Sixty-one percent of the infants had WAZ scores <−1. A 24-hour dietary recall showed that infants with <−1 WAZ have an average daily energy intake 72% of that recommended. An 18-hour nutrition course resulted in a marginal, non-significant increase in WAZ scores and in energy intake.

KEYWORDS:

• infants
• under nutrition
• 24-hour recall
• Mayan
• Yucatan

Supported by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The authors are grateful to Dr. H. Balcazar of Texas University and to Dr. S. J. Rothenberg of CINVESTAV for their suggestions and comments.

Abstract published. Cuanalo de la Cerda H. E. y E. Ochoa Estrada. 2005. Alimentación y Nutrición en una Comunidad Maya de Yucatán, México. Resúmenes. 60 p. XI Cong. Invest. Salud Pública. Morelos, México.