Nutrición Hospitalaria
ISSN 1699-5198 ISSN 0212-1611
RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN, A. RED DE MALNUTRICION EN IBEROAMERICA DEL PROGRAMA DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGIA PARA EL DESARROLLO (RED MEL-CYTED) et al. Implications of malnutrition in primary care. []. , 25, 3, pp.67-79. ISSN 1699-5198.
PAHO/WHO recognizes that the Primary Health Care (PHC) is the strategy for attaining the Millennium Development Goals: reducing poverty, eliminating acute and chronic malnutrition and reducing infant and maternal mortality. It has been a central element in the health policies in the countries of the Americas. PAHO/WHO recommends introducing PHC activities aimed at improving food and nutritional status of the population, due to chronic malnutrition affects not only the physical and mental condition of the people but to their quality of life. A large number of diseases treated in primary care, require nutritional advice or treatment after evaluation and consideration of nutritional supplementation. It is estimated a prevalence of 10% of malnourished, rising to 60-85% for institutionalized persons. Age groups at particular risk are children and the aging population. According to the World Health Organization, there are 20 million children with severe acute malnutrition in the world. In Latin America, 7% of children under five suffer malnutrition and 16% chronically malnourished. Treating the social pathology that gives rise to malnutrition is the primary basis of prevention centers. This action is carried out from the PHC through the Community Nutrition by an interdisciplinary team.
: Malnutrition; Primary care; Community nutrition.