AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN IN WESTERN PROVINCE, PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA, 1978 TO 1986

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a cross-sectional survey of nutrition in children 0-5 years old carried out in Balimo District of southern Western Province, Papua New Guinea, between December 1985 and February 1986, and compares the level of undernutrition found in this survey with previous levels. The purpose of this comparison was to determine the effect of the National Food and Nutrition Policy introduced in 1978 and, more specifically, the Balimo Nutrition Education Program introduced in 1980. The major findings are that there has been a marked reduction in the level of undernutrition in children 0-5 years old, as determined by weight for age. In 1978, 44.6% of children were less than ..