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  • Title: [Local food mixtures for the treatment of protein-calorie malnutrition in the Mondongo, Zaire rural health center].
    Author: Kalissa V, Monziba B.
    Journal: Dev Sante; 1993; (103):24-9. PubMed ID: 12287305.
    Abstract:
    Protein-calorie malnutrition is found in environments characterized by ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, poor hygiene, and absence of food processing industries. At the Mondongo rural health center in Zaire, malnourished children are not rare, although they live in an environment rich in the foods necessary for growth and development. Parents are poorly informed about the desirable age at weaning, the nutritional requirements of weaned infants, and appropriate diet and food preparation for weaned children. The income of local residents does not permit purchase of imported foods. Children must thus be nourished with local foods. Manifestations of protein-calorie malnutrition range from slight retardation of growth to serious disease, including marasmus and kwashiorkor. Among 337 children studied in Mondongo, 66 (19.5%) were seriously malnourished, with upper arm circumferences of less than 13 cm, or weight being 60% of normal weight for their age. 81 children (21%) had moderate malnutrition, with are circumferences of barely 15 cm, or weight for age 60-80% of normal. 190 children were adequately nourished, with arm circumferences of at least 16 cm and weight over 80% of normal for their age. The most frequent consumed foods in Mondongo are manioc, rice, plantains, maize, peanuts eaten as snacks between meals, soybeans (still in the stage of introduction and not well accepted), fruits, palm oil, and some vegetables. Chicken and eggs are widely consumed. There are not dishes especially prepared for newly weaned children. A formula for a weaning food called Mariso proposed by a group of researchers in 1984 was found to be poorly accepted because it included soybeans, which are not widely available or well accepted. Two mixtures more appropriate to local realities were developed. Mariche combines maize, rice, and locally harvested and smoked caterpillars, while mariop combines maize, rice, and eggs. The mixtures can be stored for short periods in ordinary containers in a dry place. Sugar or salt may be added during cooking. Two mixtures are sufficiently inexpensive to be available to all population sectors. Mariop was found to be slightly more effective than Mariche in treatment of malnourished children. Not long ago, many parents in the Mondongo region believed that malnutrition was caused by poisoning or malevolent spirits, which led to fatalistic attitudes toward appearance of signs of kwashiorkor. But protein-calorie malnutrition is a curable deficiency avoidable at low cost using locally available resources. Parents must be trained to provide adequate nutrition for their young children.
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