Nutritional Status in Latin America and the Caribbean: Review of the Current Situation and Its Evolution with Suggestions for a Course of Action for the Agency for International Development

摘要

Nutritional status in Latin America and the Caribbean is assessed as the basis for the Agency for International Development (AID) assistance efforts in the region. An initial section of the report reviews aggregate nutritional and health data, reviews specific measurements of malnutrition, and compares the latter to the former. Trends in mortality, micronutrient deficiencies, and environmental health are assessed, and data on food consumption, food expenditure, and composition of the diet are used to indicate a major problem with the distribution of food energy. Urban and rural population groups most seriously affected by the nutritional situation are examined. An overview of recent policy experience is presented as a setting for specific policy recommendations and plans for strategic action to address nutritional problems in health, food, and agriculture.