Demographic

11.5.1 Foods and Liquids Consumed by Infants and Young ChildrenAppropriate nutrition includes feeding children a variety of foods to ensure that nutrientrequirements are met. Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily. Although eating arange of fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin A, is important, studies have shown thatplant-based complementary foods by themselves are insufficient to meet the needs for certainmicronutrients (WHO/UNICEF, 1998). Therefore, it has been advised that meat, poultry, fish, or eggsshould be eaten daily, or as often as possible. Fat is also important in the diets of infants and youngchildren because it provides essential fatty acids, facilitates absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (such asvitamin A), and enhances dietary energy density and palatability. Tea and coffee contain compounds thatinhibit iron absorption and are not recommended for children. Sugary drinks and excessive juiceconsumption should be avoided because, other than energy, they contribute little to the diet and as a resultdecrease the child’s appetite for more nutritious foods (PAHO/WHO, 2003).Table 11.5 is based on information reported by mothers on the foods and liquids consumed bytheir youngest child during the 24-hour period prior to the survey. As expected, the proportion of childrenwho consumed foods or liquids included in the various food groups generally increased with the age ofthe child. Children still being breastfed are less likely to consume the various types of foods than childrenwho are not being breastfed.Table 11.5 Foods and liquids consumed by children in the day and night preceding the interviewPercentage of youngest children under three years living with the mother who consumed specific foods in the day and night preceding theinterview, by breastfeeding status and age, Swaziland 2006-07InfantformulaLiquidsOthermilk 1FortifiedOther babyliquids 2 foodsFoodmadefromgrains 3Fruits andvegetablesrich invitamin A 4Solid or semi-solid foodsFoodOther madefruits fromand rootsvege- andtables tubersFoodmadefromlegumesandnutsBREASTFEEDING CHILDRENMeat,fish,poultry,andeggsCheese,yogurt,othermilkproductAnysolid orsemisolidfoodFoodmadewithoil, fatandbutterSugaryfoodsNumberofchildren0-1 10.3 8.1 4.7 8.6 12.3 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 21.0 0.0 1.6 572-3 21.6 26.1 6.1 13.0 37.3 2.0 1.4 0.0 2.3 2.3 9.0 39.7 0.9 0.9 814-5 24.3 27.2 15.0 30.4 70.9 13.1 3.0 11.6 10.5 14.3 13.7 72.4 13.4 13.5 966-8 16.7 26.0 32.9 22.3 91.1 40.2 16.2 23.7 15.0 25.1 31.3 92.5 43.9 27.6 1289-11 12.4 24.9 58.1 20.5 95.4 61.7 29.0 36.5 22.6 46.7 43.5 97.6 60.4 31.8 11412-17 11.4 23.1 67.6 8.5 94.7 76.8 35.7 32.9 28.7 51.7 35.1 97.9 70.2 43.9 18818-23 4.0 19.8 70.0 11.4 98.7 83.3 36.1 32.2 31.6 59.4 26.1 100.0 60.5 49.1 8224-35 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 126-23 11.8 23.7 57.2 15.1 94.6 65.4 29.4 31.3 24.4 45.2 34.6 96.8 59.9 37.9 512Total 14.2 23.9 43.1 16.1 79.4 47.3 21.0 22.8 19.2 33.7 27.4 82.0 43.4 28.6 759NON-BREASTFEEDING CHILDREN12-17 34.2 55.6 68.6 13.9 97.1 69.0 39.5 43.5 22.3 56.3 55.0 97.1 68.1 38.7 7218-23 12.3 38.0 78.0 6.1 97.9 70.3 33.8 29.4 34.4 53.9 34.5 97.9 70.3 50.9 13324-35 6.6 30.5 82.9 4.1 98.5 72.0 37.2 31.3 31.9 58.9 39.0 98.7 77.1 56.5 3126-23 32.4 52.2 70.5 14.5 98.1 66.3 34.3 34.1 27.7 50.0 41.7 98.1 65.1 43.9 255Total 21.1 42.4 74.7 9.6 95.7 66.8 34.7 31.1 28.7 52.5 38.8 96.4 68.8 48.7 593Note: Breastfeeding status and food consumed refer to a 24-hour period (yesterday and the past night). An asterisk indicates that an estimate isbased on fewer than 25 unweighted children and has been suppressed.1Other milk includes fresh, tinned, and powdered cow or other animal milk.2Doesn't include plain water3Includes fortified baby food, porridge, and gruel4Includes pumpkin, carrots, red sweet potatoes; dark green leafy vegetables such as cassava leaves, spinach, okra, and blackjack and pumpkinleaves; fruits such as mangoes, papayas, oranges, and guavas150 | Nutrition of Children and Adults