Intrahousehold allocation of energy intake among children under five years and their parents in rural Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses intrahousehold allocation of energy in rural Bangladesh and tests the hypothesis that, when daily energy intake is adjusted for energy expenditure, no age or gender bias will be apparent in intrahousehold energy allocation.

DESIGN

Data were collected at two-month intervals over a one year study.

SETTING

Four villages in Matlab Thana, rural Bangladesh.

SUBJECTS

Two hundred and seven children up to 5 y of age and their 145 mothers and 123 fathers.

INTERVENTIONS

Data included six measurements of observed 24 h dietary energy intake and physical activity recorded from waking to sleeping. Total daily energy expenditure was derived using the factorial method.

RESULTS

Women's energy intake ranged from 75-88% of the FAO/WHO recommended energy intake over the six periods of data collection, significantly less (P < 0.0001) than the men's (range 89-114%). Although the women had moderate levels of physical activity, frequent pregnancies and long lactation periods increased their energy needs. Among children no longer breast fed, energy consumption, unadjusted for energy expenditure, provided 86-108% of the FAO/WHO recommended energy intake by weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Women consistently received less of their energy requirements than either their children or their husbands.