Abstract
Poverty, poor living environment and un-hygienic conditions cause serious problems in Zambia. It is well known that the infant mortality rate is high and that children less than five years old are chronically undernourished. In addition, the drought in 2002 resulted in a food shortage, particularly for subsistence farmers and families in mountain villages. A survey was conducted to assess the current state of the children's diet, physical condition, and nutrient intake. The height and weight of the children there were almost in the normal range when compared with WHO data and the height and weight of children of the same age group in an urban area. The drought had apparently not had any drastic affect on their growth. However, about 89% of the children showed a deficient nutrient intake from lunch. In particular, the quantity of proteins was extremely low in comparison with the quantity of carbohydrates and lipids. The frequency of meals eaten was also lower, and only staple foods were provided. The drought had therefore affected the children's nutrient intake by eating a food shortage.
