Nutrition For Women, An Investment In Human Quality

Abstract:

Whatever the scientific differences of opinion on the nutritional requirements of men and women, there is no debate over the fact that the nutritional requirements of pregnant and lactating women are greatly increased over the needs of a non-pregnant, non-lactating woman. This paper will focus on the effects of unfulfilled maternal nutritional requirements on both mothers and children. It is based on the results of a longitudinal food-intervention study involving various levels of food supplementation, which was conducted by the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) in four rural Guatemalan communities. The INCAP study, as well as others, documented the effects of maternal undernutrition on fetal growth, infant growth, mental development, lactation, and the birth interval. The evidence points to the importance of food supplementation of maternal diet but it also underlines the importance of pre-pregnant nutritional status. To deal with this latter problem a longer-term approach is required. It calls for programs that will expand food production and increase food availability, health and nutrition, education, family planning, etc.

Año de publicación:

1981

Keywords:

Fuente:

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