MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION

The nutritional situation of the population is determined by a variety of social, economic, andpolitical factors that influence the availability of food and dietary intake of individuals. Theprincipal nutrition problems of women and children continue to be protein-energy malnu-trition, especially in children, and deficiencies of certain specific micronutrients (nutrients that are needed in small amounts), such as vitamin A, iodine, and iron. The latter deficiency occurs main-ly in women of childbearing age and in small children. 1. Protein-energy malnutrition Protein-energy malnutrition affects the growth pattern of children. The presence of this form of malnutrition is determined by using certain anthropometric indicators (weight and height, among others). Data on these indicators are collected through surveys or obtained from food and nutrition surveillance systems. They are based fundamentally on information from health centers, where children are generally weighed and measured when they are attended in the services. Birthweight depends basically on two factors: duration of pregnancy and intrauterine growth. These factors, in turn, are closely linked to the nutritional status of the mother, which is an indica-tor of the future growth and development of the child. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined "low birthweight " as a weight at birth of under 2,500 g. Although children born in hospitals are generally weighed, this information is not always report-ed on a regular and timely basis. When births occur outside of health institutions, the reported weight is often not reliable. In addition, in information from the countries, the origin and repre-sentativity of the data are frequently not specified. The highest rates of low birthweight in America Latin have been reported in Ecuador (15.0%)