Effects of resettlement on the dietary intakes of mothers and children in lowland Papua new Guinea

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Abstract
Dietary intake of three ethnic groups living at Gavien, a resettlement project in lowland Papua New Guinea, was compared with that of people living in the home areas: Grass Country (hunter‐gatherers); Wosera (agriculturalists); Middle Sepik (hunter‐gatherers with limited agriculture). All Gavien groups grew rubber as a cash crop as well as food crops. Food intake information was collected by 24‐hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires. Sago and fresh fish consumption decreased for hunter‐gatherers in Gavien, but garden crop consumption increased. Purchased foods such as rice and tinned fish became important energy and protein sources for all groups in Gavien. In comparison with intakes in the home areas, mothers and children in Gavien had higher intakes of most nutrients, except for those from the Grass Country, who had lower protein and niacin intakes after resettlement. Dietary quality improved with resettlement because the traditional diet in lowland Papua New Guinea is monotonous and staple foods are low in nutrient density. Therefore, the addition of purchased foods had a beneficial, rather than detrimental effect.