Situation Analysis of nutritional health

of Georgian population

Abbreviations:

MICS – Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (conducted by UNICEF, MoLH&SA, SDS, MOE. 1999)

RHS - Reproductive Health Survey (Funded and conducted by UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, UNHCR, AIHA, NCDC&MS, SDS. 1999-2000)

HBSA – Health behavior survey among adults (conducted under the framework of agreement for Performance of Work between WHO/EURO and Georgian Medical Association, using a CINDI Health Monitor questionnaire – 2001)

MoLH&SA – Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs

SDS – State Department for Statistics

MOE - Ministry of Education

NCDC&MS – National center for Disease Control and Medical Statistics

UNFPA- United Nations Population Fund

AIHA – American International Health Alliance

UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF – United Nations Children's Fund

USAID – United States Agency for International Development

ST – State Programme on "iodine and other micronutrients deficiency disorders prevention".

ID - Iodine Deficiency

VAD – Vitamin A Deficiency

IDA – Iron Deficiency Anemia

Malnutrition  (NCDC&MS, Save the Children –US)

The studies on nutritional status of Children less than five years of age conducted by the national centers for diseases control and save the children –US, with funding provided by USAID, shows that about 60% of the 3258 households surveyed in 2001 were food insecure with hunger (36% were with moderate hunger and 24 % - with severe hunger). A grater percentage of rural households were food insecure (66 %), than urban households (55%).

Food products (milk, milk products, meat, fish and egg) are sources of animal proteins that contribute to the development of a child's body. According to general nutritional recommendations, children 1 to 5 years of age should consume 3 to 4 grams of protein per kilogram of weight, of which 70%-75% of these proteins should be of animal origin. Based on these recommendations, 55% to 58% of the children in this survey do not receive on a daily basis these very important proteins.

Based on generally accepted principles of nutrition, a daily diet should consist of 12% proteins, 27% to 30% fat, and 57% to 65% carbohydrates. The result of this study indicate that diets of more than one-half of the children is deficient of protein, especially food items such as milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, meat, fish, eggs. In addition, it was reported that 18% to 25% of all the children never ate meat, fish or eggs. The percentage of children who ate meat on a daily basis is quite low – 5.5%.

The percentage of children under 1 month of age who were exclusively breastfed ranged from 83.9% to 92.5% over the three surveys. For children 6 months of age the rate of exclusively breastfeeding ranged from 9.6% to 12.1%.

The primary caretaker in each household was asked to report the amount of GEL received by all household members in the previous month by 14 different sources. Approximately 80% surveyed households reported household income. The average monthly household income was 115-120 GEL. The per capita monthly household income was 23 to 24 GELS.

Iodine deficiency  (ST)