Maternal and Infant Nutrition Reviews. Thailand: A Guide to the Literature

摘要

Literature available in the United States on maternal and infant nutrition in Thailand is surveyed in this report. Data are categorized in terms of nutritional status, dietary beliefs and practices, and the correlation of nutritional status with selected socioeconomic factors such as education, employment, and income at the national, urban, and rural levels. A 59-item annotated bibliography (1972-81) is provided, along with lists of other references and of current Thai Government, USAID/T, international agency, and PVO nutrition-related programs and policies. Although Thailand produces enough food to satisfy its nutritional needs, several major nutritional problems are prevalent, the most widespread of which is protein energy malnutrition (PEM). PEM is mainly caused by social inhibitions to breastfeeding in urban areas and insufficient supplementary foods in rural areas.