Abstract

This study was conducted to reveal nutrient intakes and factors affecting the nutritional status of elderly women in a rural area. The data of dietary intakes were obtained using 24hour recall data which were collected from 244 women subjects older than fifty years old. The data from the questionnaire regarding eating habits were obtained through interview. The education level and economic status of the subjects in this study were very low and education level(p<0.001), occupation(p<0.001), marital status(p<0.001), family size(p<0.05) and smoking habit(p<0.05) were significantly different among different age groups. The nutrient intakes of all age groups were not adequate to RDA level-specially, micronutrient intakes were lower in those in their sixties compared to those in their fifties. Important factors associated with variation in nutrient intakes of subjects were beef preference, regular eating habits, and education level. Therefore it is necessary to focus on subjects with low education levels and low income in order to improve the health and nutritional atatus of the elderly in rural areas. It is necessary to prepare a nutritional education program to establish and maintain good eating habits of the elderly in rural areas.

• Keywords: elderly womwn; nutrient intakes; eating habit