Analysis and evaluation of Wonseong County model nutrition education project

Evaluation was prepared by a special subproject committee and covers the period 1978-80. Project educational activities included direct education of housewives and members of the Civil Defense Forces; education of social and health workers, teachers, and civil servants in charge of rural development; and development of 20 types of educational aids and of model primary schools for nutrition improvement. In addition, radio programs were conducted and Nutrition Improvement Clubs organized. At a Nutrition Demonstration School, 247 children and seven teachers attended an intensive NE program. Efforts were made to raise government awareness of nutrition needs through meetings of the Advisory Committee, a workshop, and a seminar. A comparison of the model county with the control county after 3 years showed improvement in knowledge and attitude toward nutrition among the people of the model county, as well as strengthened cooperation by local government offices and the central government. Housewives and primary school children in the model county had more correct ideas of proper nutrition than their counterparts in the control county, and the intake of protein and preparation and storage of food was better in the model county, where housewives provided more nutritive supplementary food for their children than their control counterparts. Variety in foods, as well as per capita daily average intake, were increased, with a marked improvement in the intake of dairy products, vegetables, and fruits by preschool children and pregnant and lactating women. Little difference between the two counties was noted, however, in regard to washing hands before meals and boiling water to drink or in regard to overall health status; considerable time will be needed to effect the latter. A 2-year project extension and development of a similar project in southern Korea are recommended.