Patterns and Predictors of Participation and Consumption of Supplement in An Intervention Study in Rural Guatemala

Abstract

Children's participation and supplement intake patterns in an eight-year, community-based intervention trial in Guatemala are presented. The supplements were either high-energy, high-protein atole or low-energy, no-protein fresco. Participation rates were between 65% and 85%, with few differences by village (N = 4) or child age (0–7 years). The percentage of days of attendance at the supplementation centre and the volume of supplement consumed, however, were significantly higher in villages that were given atole for children under flour years old. After the age of four, children who received fresco consumed more volume. Supplement energy was significantly greater for children receiving atole at all ages. Proximity to the supplementation centre and larger family size were significant predictors of attendance for both supplements. Low socio-economic status was highly associated with increased attendance for children consuming atole, but not fresco. Analyses using these data should consider the possible biases introduced by differential self-selection between supplement types, particularly those that were potentially confounded by attendance or socioeconomic status.