Undertaking researches that define the population’s nutritional status with reference to malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases, and their causes is one of the legal bases the Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) is conducting nutrition surveys regularly.
In 2008, the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) showed significant increases in the prevalence of stunting and underweight children 0-5 and 6-10 years old from 2005 to 2008.
“In 2008, in every one hundred 0-5 year-old pre-school children, 26 were underweight, about 28 were stunted and six were thin using the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS),” according to Dr. Jocelyn A. Juguan of the FNRI-DOST during her lecture on “The 7th National Nutrition Survey: Highlights on the Nutritional Status of Infants” at the Philippine Women’s University’s (PWU) Nutrition Month celebration on July 21, 2010.
“In every one hundred 6-10 year-old children, about 26 were underweight and about 33 were stunted,” Dr. Juguan added.
Dr. Juguan also revealed that the highest prevalence of anemia at 55.7 percent was observed among infants, 6 months to less than one year old, which remains a significant public health problem.
However, survey results showed that anemia prevalence generally in 2008 declined from 2003 among children 6 months to 12 years old.
“About 1.91 million or 15.2 percent children had vitamin A deficiency (VAD),” Dr. Juguan said. “There is a significant drop in the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency from 40.1 percent in 2003 to 15.2 percent in 2008 among children 6 months to five years,” she further added.
The role of mothers in complementary feeding is important in providing the necessary nutrients for the growing infant, 6 months and older.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complementary feeding is the gradual shift from breastmilk to solid foods and giving other foods in addition to breastmilk, typically covers the period from 6 to 18-24 months of age, and is a very vulnerable period.
It is important to feed children 6 months onwards with enough sources of iron, zinc and B vitamins with continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond when possible in a timely, accurate, and appropriate manner.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service: Press Release – JUND RIAN A. DORINGO)
