Communication and education in nutrition planning in Costa Rica

LOAN RESOURCES IN COSTA RICA FOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS. THE APPROACH FOLLOWED DID NOT RESTRICT THE RESEARCHERS TO TRADITIONAL IDEAS OF NUTRITION EDUCATION. THEY FOCUSED ON THE USE OF COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION, AND EDUCATION IN THE NATIONAL NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM. THEY CONSIDERED THE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF AVAILABLE FOOD RESOURCES OF THE FAMILY AND ALSO THE INTEGRATED SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PLAN. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WERE IN FOOD PRODUCTION, IMPROVED FOOD STORAGE, SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF FOODS, CONSUMPTION OF AVAILABLE FOODS, AND CONTROL OF DISEASES RELATED TO MALABSORPTION OF INGESTED FOODS. THE FINAL PURPOSE OF THE NUTRITION EDUCATION WAS TO IMPROVE FOOD INTAKE AND USE. CONVENTIONAL AND MASS COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES WERE EMPLOYED AS A BROAD APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE. THIS DOCUMENT OUTLINES THE KEY AREAS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION, THE CURRENT STATE OF NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND RADIO AND AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION; IT GIVES SUGGESTIONS FOR UPGRADING EACH. IT ALSO COVERS NEW COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES IN NUTRITION, SUCH AS RADIO STUDY GROUP CAMPAIGNS AND MATERNITY CLINIC EDUCATION. A FINANCIAL SUMMARY OF PROPOSED PROJECTS IS PRESENTED, AND THE NECESSARY LOAN FUNDS ARE DISCUSSED.