Resumen

ZARZALEJO, Zulema; GARCIA, Magda; MARIA LUISA, Alvarez  y  MILLAN, Andreina. Hábitos de alimentación en niños desnutridos menores de dos años en una comunidad urbano marginal. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2001, vol.14, n.2, pp.60-69. ISSN 0798-0752.

The objective of this study was to describe the feeding habits of children up to 24 months with undernutrition. Methods: 241 patients were dietary assessed at the Centro de Atención Nutricional Infantil Antímano (CANIA), between July 1995 and October 1996. Feeding Habits were evaluated on the basis of 24 hour recall and weekly frequency consumption, breastfeeding, infant formula, incorporation of complementary food and diet. The data retrospectively obtained was analyzed by a frequency distribution. Results: Breast-feeding (exclusive and combined) resulted a common practice if the community, 80% of the children received it for more than a month, and 49% up to the sixth month. Whole milk was the most consumed type of formula at the time of the study; 204 children (96%) were supplied with diluted preparations below the recommended concentration, with non-pre-cooked cereal and added sugar. The introduction of complementary foods was initiated before the 4^th month of life in 53% (n=103) of the cases. Nearly 53% (n=103) of the children were bottle-fed well over the first 12-month period with milk-cereal preparations. The food groups with deficit consumption were fruits, breads and cereals, meats and fats; the food group less consumed by the studied group was vegetables, with only 30% (n=75). The nutritional adequacy for calories, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates was lower than requirements. Feeding habits were inadequate for: intake adequacy, quality of diet and previous experiences in breast feeding, infant formula and dietary progress.

Palabras clave : Food habits; diet; breast-feeding; protein energy malnutrition; child; pediatrics.