Abstract

JIMENEZ-BENITEZ, D.; RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN, A.; JIMENEZ-RODRIGUEZ, R.  and  RED DE MALNUTRICION EN IBEROAMERICA DEL PROGRAMA DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGIA PARA EL DESARROLLO (RED MEL-CYTED). Social determinants analysis of malnutrition in Latin America. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2010, vol.25, suppl.3, pp.18-25. ISSN 1699-5198.

Our food conduct is influenced by several sociocultural determinants and acquires many social meanings. Recognizing the enormous influence of the economic, biological, environmental, technological, political conditions, etc., here we are interested for those of more socioculturalcharacter. The food of any population can be determined by the educational level, the employment, the gender and age, ethnic differentiation, social coverage, the social support networks, the empowerment and civil participation, the social cohesion, etc., and it is mediated by the preservation of familiar or community traditions (celebrations, festivals, hospitable attitudes, religious customs, taboos...) for advertising and marketing, and other sociocultural factors. Poverty in Latin America affects the third part of population and one sixth part of the region is undernourished. Although education has improved in all countries in last two decades, it still needs to progress. The unemployment rate is higher for the poorest, the women and youth, and is also higher in rural and indigenous populations. Women suffer the food crises consequences twice more than the men. And in relation to health and nutrition state, in indigenous populations we are observed a minor life expectancy compared of the rest of the population, higher infant mortality rates, more poverty, more hunger and malnutrition among children under five, and women from ethnic minorities and poor households in agricultural areas.

Keywords : Social determinants; Malnutrition; Empowerment.

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