Nutrition Survey of Young Children of A Day Care Center in the Low Income Area of Seoul City

일부(一部) 도시저소득층(都市低所得層) 유아원원아(幼兒園園兒)의 영양실태조사(營養實態調査)

A survey of 113 children, aged 4 to 6 years, of the San Cheon a day care center, located in the upland, over populated, poor area of Seoul City, was conducted from July 28 to September 6, 1982, to investigate the dietary and nutritional status, and prevalence of parasitic inpection. House size was 10.1 Pyung; number of households per house, 3.1; number of family member per household, 4.8; and number of family members living together per room, 3.7; on the average. Only 49% of households possess own houses and the others live in the rented houses. About 40% of mothers were engaged income-producing activities within or outside of the home. Mean values of height, weight, arm circumference, girth of chest, and girth of head ranged from 98.4 to 102.2% of KIST mean. However, 13% of the subjects were assessed as undernutrition for 'weight for height'. Mean value of hemoglobin was $12.9{\pm}2.9\;g/dl$ and mean hematocrit value was $35.2{\pm}5.5%$; 17.9% of the subjects were proven to be anemic according to the criteria of the WHO. The positive prevalence of parasitic inpection was 3.3%, significantly lower than that observed in any other area, probably because of community parasitic control project. Intakes of energy and nutrients except thiamin and ascorbic acid were far below RDAs. Carbohydrates for energy provided 71. 2 to 73.8% of total energy intake; protein accounted 11.3 to 12.2%; fat provided 14.5 to 16.6%. Energy intake was divided among breakfast, lunch, evening meal and snack, on the average, in a percentage of 22.0; 23.4; 24.4; 30.2. There was significant correlation between pattern of food consumption and nutrient intakes. The nutrient intakes and quality of foods were highly correlated to the maternal factors, especially mother's educational level. The study suggested that development of nutrition guides for mother and children would be needed to improve nutritional status of those young children.