Baseline evaluation of nutritional status and government feeding programs in Chiclayo, Peru

Background. Because of the rapid growth of the urban population in Peru, food and nutrition insecurity will occur increasingly in this population. For appropriate policy setting and programming, the food and nutrition situation of the urban poor requires better understanding. Objective. To gain information about the nature, magnitude, severity, and causes of the nutritional problems of the population in low-income areas of the city of Chiclayo, Peru. Methods. A cross-sectional nutrition survey was conducted in 1,604 households, covering children under 5 years of age and their parents. Results. The prevalence rates of stunting, wasting, overweight. and anemia in children were 15.4%, 1.3%, 4.6%, and 65.7%, respectively; one third of adults were overweight, and one tenth were obese; 2.1% of the mothers were underweight; and 34.3% of mothers and 12.2% of fathers had anemia. Governmental feeding programs did not address these problems adequately. Conclusions. Interventions must have adequate targeting,; address appropriate responses at the household, community, and national levels; and reduce stunting, obesity, and iron-deficiency anemia.