• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.43-58
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• 1977

Kojedo is the second largest island in Korea and a total population of 115,500 is living on the island of 394.69 sq. km. Under the direction of three nutrition professors, nutrition surveys in two villages in Kojedo, namely Siljun Ri in Hachung Myon and Soowol Ri in Shinhyun Myon, were carried by 30 college senior students majoring in nutrition from August to 20 August 1977. From a total of 176 households of the two villages, 67 households were randomly selected and 390 family members of the households were subjcets of the nutrition surveys. The precise weighing method was used in evaluating the kinds of foods and nutrient intakes of the subjects for three consecutive days. Thirty-seven pre-school children aged between 3 to 6 years and 27 fertile women were examined for biochemical findings and physical status. The main purposes of the surveys are to provide baseline data on nutrition in Kojedo Island for the Kojedo Community Development Project and to compare the nutritional status of the villages of Siljun Ri and Soowol Ri. Siljun Ri is located in the pilot project area of the Koiedo Community Health Project sponsored since December 1970 by the Christian Medical Commission of the World Council of Churches. While Soowol Ri is a control village for comparison. The results obtained are summarized as follows: Food Intake The average food intake per person per day in Siljun Ri, 1064 grams (91.7% in vegetable foods and 7.6% in animal foods) was 90 grams more than that of Soowol Ri, 974 grams (92.8% in vegetable foods and 5.9% in animal foods). However, the food intake per pre-school child in Siljun Ri, 485 grams (92.6% from vegetable foods and 6.4% from animal foods) was 21 grams lower than that of the Soowol Ri, 506 grams (88.5% from vegetable foods and 6.5% from animal foods). The average intake of beans was 16 grams(1.5% out of the total food intake) in Siljun Ri and 21 grams(2.2% of the total food intake)in Soowol Ri. The villagers should be guided for more consumption of soybeans to improve the quality of protein intake from vegetable foods. Nutrient Intake The adult intake in Siljun Ri and Soowol Ri were 2,529 kcal and 2,511 kcal respectively. The average energy intake of pre-school childen in Siljun Ri was 948 kcal and that for adult and 1,500 kcal for childen aged between 4 to 6 years-given by the Korea FAO Association, the diets in both villages were not adequate. Average daily protein intake of the subjected adult in Siljun Ri was 78.4 grams and that of Soowol Ri was 76.2 grams, while pre-school children took 30.7 grams in the former village and 31.7 grams in the latter village per child per day. The protein intake in both villages were lower than the recommended allowances, 80 grams for adult and 45 grams for $4{\sim}6$ years childen, and animal protein intake of the all subjects was very much lower than the RDA. The main charecter of the diet has been found low in quality of protein and high in carbohydrate. The calcium intakes of the pre-school children in both villages, 251.9 milligrams in Siljun Ri and 218.8 milligrams in Soowol Ri, were very much lower than the recommended allowance of 500 milligrams per day. It is apparent that the diet for children should be supplemented with calcium. Among the vitamin group, the daily average intakes of vitamin A and $B_{2}$(thiamine), $B_{2}$(riboflavin), C(ascorbic acid), and niacin were not adequate for the children in both villages. Especially the intake of riboflavin, 0.4 milligrams in both village children, was much lower than the RDA, 0.9 milligrams per day. Physical Characteristics Average height, weight, chest and head circumference of the pre-school children in both villages were similar to those of the Korean standard given by the Korean Paediatrics Association except that the average height of pre-school boys in Siljun Ri was 8 cm higher than the Korean standard of 105 cm. The mean values of upper arm circumference and skinfold thickness of pre-school boys in both villages were the same, 15.4 cm for upper arm circumference and 6.8 mm for skinfold thickness, but the mean values of those of the girls in Siljun Ri were higher than those of pre-school grils in Soowol Ri. Biochemical Findings Avera ge hemogobin value of boys and girls in both villages was the same, 11.1 grams per 100 ml of blood. The incidence of anemia (Hb value below 11g/100ml) was similar in both viltagesr 36.4% for boys and 50% for girls in Siljun Ri and 37.5% for boys and 50% for girls in Soowol Ri. Average hemoglobin values of fertile women were 10.7g% in Siljun Ri and 10.8% in Soowor Ri. The incidences of anemia(Hb valre brlow 12g/100ml) were 100% in Siljun Ri and 86.7% in Soowol Ri. The anemia of these subjects may be caused mainty low intake of good quality protein and iron intake from vegetable food. Recommendation In general, the nutritional status of a community health pilot village is not higher than that of control village due to the lack of nutrition improvement guldance services. Nutrition education should be delivered to the villagers as a main part of the health education artivities. The emphasis should be on building better health through bttter food habits and better food production as well as on preventing malnutrition and diseasrs. It can be an invaluable part of community developnent. Since nutrition is considered to be at least one-half of MCH care, no village or home visits should be made without careful provision for teaching and demoastrating something simple and practical on nutrition. The nurse, midwife, and village health worker should be the chief promoters of nutrition.