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Factors associated with a higher fat and fruits intake in rural population from Cumbe and Quingeo, Ecuador

Abstract:

Introduction: The dietary patterns show diverse epidemiological behaviors according to the geographical region, varying even according to areas within the same country. The objective of this study is to evaluate the factors associated with fats and fruits intake in the rural populations of Cumbe and Quingeo, Ecuador. Materials and methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed in 904 individuals from both genres. This took place in the rural parishes of Quingeo and Cumbe. They were selected trough a multistage random sampling. The fats and fruits intake was recorded according to a 24 hours reminder, for units conversion the specialized software NDS-R (Nutrition Data System for Research) was used. Results: Of the 904 subjects evaluated, 62.1% (n=561) were women, the distribution of subjects according to fat intake was: low 66% (n=597), moderate 18.8% (n=170) and high 15.2% (n=137); while the distribution according to the fruit intake: low 55.4% (n=501), moderate 42.3% (n=382) and high 2.3% (n=21). The main factors associated with fat consumption were: age (χ 2 =13.73 p<0.01), socioeconomic status (χ 2 =2.76 p<0.01) and working condition (χ 2 =10.43 p<0.01); while for fruit intake were gender (χ 2 =7.72 p=0.02), age (χ 2 =10.22 p=0.04) and socioeconomic status (χ 2 =18.11 p=0.02). Conclusions: In rural populations from Cumbe and Quingeo there is a high frequency of low intake of fats and fruits, with sociodemographic variables being the main factors associated with this pattern of consumption.