Effect of the consumption of farm animals on the diet and hemoglobin levels of school age children in the rural communities of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabi, Calpaqui, and Compania of the Imbabura province

• Main Author: Echeverría, Alexandra
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2007
• Subjects: Diet; nutrition; children; blood analysis; children nutrition; Ecuador; Life Sciences; Medicine and Health
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5358; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6357&context=etd

This research addressed malnutrition in the villages of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabí, Calpaquí and Compañía in the city Otavalo, which is in the Province of Imbaura, Ecuador. The research determined the effects of consumption of small-animals on the diet and hemoglobin levels in school aged boys and girls. This study involved 311 indigenous children between 6 and 12 years of age. Following parental authorization, blood tests and fecal samples were taken from each child to analyze hemoglobin and parasites. Additional information gathered from this study group included a socio-economic survey, frequency of food consumption, 24 hour inventory, animal production, and basic knowledge on anemia to compare the results with the normal standards. The results showed prevalent anemia, poor nutritional conditions, parasite presence, dietary iron deficiencies, and low school performance. Recommendations from these results include using dietary iron supplements and deworming children. This information increases community knowledge of the nutritional conditions of school children and how to improve these situations in general.