농촌지역 노인영양중재사업의 효과

Abstract

This study was performed to assess the effects of nutritional intervention for home-staying elderly at rural areas for three months. The subjects were total 148 aged over 65 years at some rural communities in Gokseong district(70 intervention group and 78 control group). General characteristics, physical health status, social relationship, food intake, dietary habits, knowledge of nutrition and nutrition risk index of the subjects were examined by individual interview. The participants were divided into two groups through the first questionnaire of nutrition: nutritional intervention group(nutritional intervention and education of nutrition) and control group(education of nutrition alone). Food package containing 85% of daily EAR (Estimated Average Requirements) including energy, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, calcium, and vitamin-C was served once a week for three months to nutritional intervention group. Changes of parameters after nutritional intervention were analyzed by paired t-test, Chi-square, McNemar's -test and repeated measure ANOVA. Nutritional intervention group showed significant increase of energy intake to 87.4% from 71.0% and of most nutrients except vitamin A and niacin after intervention. This group also showed significant increase of animal protein intake to 35.0% from 23.2% and of animal iron intake to 20.1% from 9.7%. Fat energy contributive rate was also significantly increased to 15.3% from 10.8% and serum transferrin was also significantly increased at this group. After nutritional intervention program, depression index was significantly decreased and changes of food habits, self-confidence and conviction indices were significantly increased. Therefore, this study showed that the nutritional intervention serving foods for short-term intervention period was very effective in improving the nutritional status. In addition, it suggested that it was not enough for nutritional improvement of the elderly to provide public health education or counseling alone, therefore, for achieving its goals, it should be needed proper nutritional supply to them. Further the results of this study show a potential that nutritional intervention service can be used for the elderly welfare policies and the elderly nutrition improvement programs.