Prevention of Malnutrition in Chile

Abstract

During the last thirty years, a progressive and continuous improvement in the health and nutrition of infants and preschool children has taken place in Chile. Biomedical indicators show that Chile has reached one of the highest levels in the region, although during this period per capita gross national product (GNP) has not changed substantially. Also during this same period, economic policies have changed drastically, ranging from a planned, centralized economy, to an open, liberal economy from 1976 until the present. In the last thirty years the country has confronted many severe economic and political crises. A socialist government was overthrown by a military coup in 1973. Two severe economic crises occurred in 1975 and 1982, associated with high unemployment rates that, in the latter period, reached 20% of the total labor force. Despite these numerous changes and crises, malnutrition and infant and preschool child mortality have continued to decrease.