Towards better nutrition: lip service or a realistic fight?

ABSTRACT

Progress towards the objective of the World Food Conference of 1974 that "no child should go to bed hungry" is reviewed. The low market price of primary products keeps developing countries poor. Yet in these countries industry rather than agriculture has been supported by governments. All regions are increasing total food production but population growth threatens to offset this increase. In some areas there is decrease in food production per head of population. In many countries the social situation of women affects the nutrition of families. Other causes of malnutrition are discussed and future policies are recommended.

ABSTRACT

PIP The causes of chronic malnutrition worldwide can be reduced to rural poverty, exploding populations, and sociocultural factors; ineffective and successful solutions are listed. The majority of people in developing countries live in rural areas 80% in Africa. Subsistence farmers are forced to work marginal land, and have little access to cash which is creamed off by middle-men and governments. The population explosion, despite advances in food production, has added one billion mouths and reduced the food available in the decade since the World Food Conference in 1974. By 2000, land and water will be limited 64 countries will need food aid, and 38 of them will need imports for over half their people. In cash economies, increased child survival will lead to greater poverty. A major sociocultural cause of hunger in many areas is the situation of women. Countries do not recognize women for their work in producing food, but consider the man the breadwinner according to outdated colonial notions. Cultural traditions such as purchasing brides, and excluding women from family decision-making, education, credit, co-op membership, cash crops and better land considered appropriate for men, compromise their ability to produce family food. Ignorance and poverty, poor home and time management lead to poor nutrition in dozens of ways, such as loss of food in storage, or feeding children only once daily after they are too tired to eat, or giving infants food that is too bulky and coarse. Many nonproductive attempts to improve nutrition are mentioned such as promoting infant formula, western high protein nutritional advice, inappropriate products, and dull educational materials. Some simple sugestions for mothers are feeding children at least 4 meals daily, providing dry biscuits, making porridges sufficiently thick, giving each child his own plate, using some fat in cooking, preserving food effectively. Effective techniques include sincere government commitment, integrated programs pilot programs, clear objectives, influential leaders, studying local customs and conditions, market research, consistent follow-up, practical and locally relevant programs, tactful, trained staff, and good evaluation procedures.