Nutrition of Honduran mothers/caretakers

ABSTRACT

In 1966, the Honduran Ministry of Health conducted a national micronutrient survey of children 12-71 months old, which also included an assessment of the nutrition status of their mothers/caretakers. THe 1 126 mothers/caretakers who participated in the survey tended to be short and plump. About 15 percent of them were at obstetric risk by virtue of their short stature and/or low body weight. About 9 percent had chronic energy deficiency (CED), but 27 percent were at least 20 percent overweight. CED was associated with socioeconomic indicators of poverty. Risk factors for being at higher than grade 4, 5, or 6 of primary school, coming from a wealthier household, and living in San Pedro Sula or medium-sized cities. Among the women surveyed, 26 percent of nonpregnant and 32 percent of pregnant mothers/caretakers were anemic. The likely principal cause of anemia was the low intake of bioavailable iron from food and, in some cases, excessive iron loss associated with intestinal parasities, especially hookworm. Only 50 percent of the mothers/caretakers participating in this study had received iron during their last pregnancy, and just 13 percent had received postpartum vitamin A. The results highlighted the need to develop and implement an effective program to control iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age, including by fortifying such widely consumed foods as processed wheat and maize flour and by routinely administering iron supplements to high-risk groups. Postpartum vitamin A supplementation should be encouraged to protect both the mother and newborn infant against vitamin A deficiency (AU)