Nutritional status in the Dominican Republic

In addition, the survey collected data on birthweights in ten maternity facilities throughout the country in order to help pinpoint the major contributing factors to malnutrition. Child"s recumbent length, weight, age, sex, morbidity status, mother"s prenatal history, and medical service availability and use were included in the study design. Community availability of these services, as well as the availibility, use, and impact of various food supplement programs, were also examined. The advantage of this survey was to connect health and nutrition variables with extensive socioeconomic information from the Tufts Consumption Project. In the latter, 1,440 families were interviewed intermittently during a week-long period: food consumption data including accurate dietary recall and detailed income data were collected. The same families were located for the present nutrition survey; all children in their homes under six years of age were weighed and measured, and basic health information was collected. This project thus provides not only accurate health and nutrition information but also reliable economic and food consumption data. Appendix 1 contains the questionnaire used for the nutrition survey; Appendix 2 is the Birthweight Study undertaken to provide reference information for the Dominican Republic. (Author abstract)