Eating patterns in a sample of Tanzanian families and some health characteristics of their children aged 9-16 years

A 24-hour recall method was used to investigate eating patterns in a sample of 175 adults and 54 children from 50 families in Morogoro District. The amount of food items used for one meal was weighed. Children's body weight and height were measured and their dental caries status was scored. The relationship between food intake and social factors and some health indicators (for children) was studied. A one day diet of the families studied consisted of plant foods (cereals and vegetables), little animal foods and little sugar. The studied group had on one day high intake of energy (2800-400 kcal), total protein (80-100) and total carbohydrates (600-800g), but low intake of essential amino acids (10-13g). Their sugar moments was 1.2 -4.3. Dental caries status of the children was very low (mean D3MT = 0.3). There was no significant difference on the intake of energy and nutrients between small and large families, or socio-economic status. A significant difference was observed in regard to area of residence. Rural populations had more total protein (P = 0.003), total carbohydrates (P = 0.01) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.09). Urban adults had more sugar moments (P = 0.04) than rural adults. Children's food intake was not related to relative overweight, and their dental caries status was not related to sugar moment, fluoride in drinking water or area of residence. People should be informed on the importance of including animal foods in their daily diets. This will be achieved if the people's economic status is improved since most animal foods are scarce and expensive. Improvement of socio-economic status has been observed to accompany industrialization, thus increase in sugar production and consumption and consequently increase in caries rate. Therefore, people (especially children) should be informed on the consequence of increased frequencies of sugar consumption before their present habits of between meals eating are altered.