Diferencias en la calidad de la dieta de escolares españoles de educación primaria de entornos rurales y urbanos

Abstract

Background: the scientific literature reports a significant decrease in the levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the early stages of life. The objective was to analyze the differences in the Mediterranean diet depending on the population context (rural and urban). Methods: descriptive-cross sectional study carried out with 526 Spanish schoolchildren aged 6-13 years selected through intentional non-probability sampling from Murcia and the island of Fuerteventura. After receiving informed consent from schools and parents / legal guardians, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through the KIDMED questionnaire. Statistical analysis has been carried out using contingency tables and the T test for independent samples. Both tests were performed using the IBM SPSS 24.0 statistical program, with significance set at 0.05. Results: boys from urban settings present better mean score in quality of diet (QD) in 1st and 2nd grade (p <0.015) compared to schoolchildren in rural settings. On the other hand, women from urban settings have a better mean score on QD in 1st and 2nd grade (p <0.010) and, 5th and 6th grade of elementary school compared to rural schoolgirls (p <0.045). Considering the total, schoolchildren with an urban environment present higher high CD (p <0.029) and total QD (p <0.001) than those who live in a rural environment. Conclusions: primary school students living in urban settings present a better quality of diet than schoolchildren living in rural settings.