Food consumption patterns in a rural Tanzanian community (Kikwawila village, Kilombero District, Morogoro Region) during lean and post-harvest season.

A survey on food consumption was undertaken in 32 out of 260 households of a rural Tanzanian community (Kikwawila village, Morogoro Region) during the lean season (February) and the post-harvest season (August) in 1983. The survey revealed that the staples maize, rice and cassava are equally important food items of the diet during the lean season. In August, the post-harvest season, rice dominated the food pattern and often replaced the porridge made from maize or cassava. Green vegetables, especially cassava leaves, were the main relish dish for the majority of households in February. Fish became a daily item of the diet of most families in August. Concentrated energy sources such as fats, oil and sugar were scarce in both survey periods. The diets of all age groups of the population surveyed were highly deficient in energy (mean adequacy 58%) and protein (50%) in February. The FAO/WHO-recommended standards (Passmore et al., 1974) were met for protein in August but energy deficiency was still observed (mean adequacy 65%). The variations in energy intake were not only seasonal, but were also age and sex dependent. Young males (10 to 16 years) followed by the infants (6 months to 3 years) and old females (greater than 60 years) were the groups with lowest adequacy (less than 50%) in February. Males (10 to 60 years) had the greatest energy deficits in August. Iron requirements were generally met in most age groups during both seasons. However, children under 3 years as well as adolescent and adult females (mean adequacy 54-65% in August) were at risk for anaemia. The seasonal pattern of the diet did significantly influence the vitamin A intake. While the requirements were fully met in February, a deficiency was noted in August. The low adequacy (40%) for vitamin A during the post-harvest season could be related to the scarcity of leafy vegetables in the diets. The data are discussed and related to the health problems observed in the community during the post-harvest season for three consecutive years.