Authors: Lechtig, Aarón; Cornale, Guido; Ugaz, María Elena; Arias, Lena

Source: Food & Nutrition Bulletin, Volume 30, Number 1, March 2009 , pp. 37-48(12)

Publisher: Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation

Abstract:

Background. The rates of stunting, iron-deficiency anemia, and vitamin A deficiency in Peru are among the highest in South America. There is little scaled-up experience on how to solve these problems countrywide.

Objective. To evaluate the Good Start in Life Program during the period from 2000 to 2004.

Methods. Data on weight, height, hemoglobin, serum retinol, urinary iodine, and age were obtained from children under 3 years of age during two transverse surveys in 2000 and 2004.

Results. In 2004, the program covered 75,000 children, 35,000 mothers, and 1 million inhabitants from 223 poor communities. The rate of stunting decreased from 54.1% to 36.9%, the rate of iron-deficiency anemia decreased from 76.0% to 52.3%, and the rate of vitamin A deficiency decreased from 30.4% to 5.3% (p < .01). The annual cost per child was US$116.50.

Conclusions. Adaptations of this participative program could contribute to decreased stunting, iron-deficiency anemia, and vitamin A deficiency at the national scale in Peru and many other countries.

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Keywords: CHILDREN; COST; EARLY STIMULATION; EFFECTIVENESS; GOOD START IN LIFE PROGRAM; IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA; PERU; STUNTING; VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2009-03-01

More about this publication?

• Established in 1978, the Food and Nutrition Bulletin (FNB) is a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by the Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation in association with the United Nations University.
  
  The focus of the journal is to highlight original scientific articles on nutrition research, policy analyses, and state-of-the-art summaries relating to multidisciplinary efforts to alleviate the problems of hunger and malnutrition in the developing world.
  
  Food and Nutrition Bulletin's 2011 Impact Factor: 1.922
  
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