EFFECT OF A SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM ON THE GROWTH IN STATURE OFCHILDREN

The general objective of this study was to compare the variation exhib ited in height/age by a group of low income children (when they were u nder 2 years) who had a mild deficit in this parameter and who receive d an important supplement with another group with the same deficit who did not receive it. To achieve this objective we obtained a sample of children who were beneficiaries of Chile's National Complementary Fee ding Program. The experimental group included children from the so cal led reinforced component of that program and the control group from th e basic one. The results showed that after 12 months of observation, b oth groups gained in height being those increments statistically signi ficantly. Interestingly, the improvement was greater in the control gr oup. The authors argue that with the nutritional situation that our co untry exhibits presently, that is, a very small percentage of low wt/a ge and around 18% to 24% of low income children with a mild deficit in height, a general improvement of the family's economic status probabl y produces a larger effect on this indicator than a high calorie/prote in supplement.