ABSTRACT
Background: The Ministry of Health incorporated in 2008 in the national supplementary feeding program a milk based drink for pregnant and nursing women fortified with EPA and DHA. The product initially presented some degree of rejection in the population, which led to modify its organoleptic characteristics. Objective: To evaluate in a national sample the acceptability and consumption of the modified product a year after starting distribution. Methodology: Random sample of1,272 beneficiaries in 62 clinics and 21 rural health posts across the country. A semistructured survey to assess withdrawal, acceptability and consumption by the beneficiary and other household members was applied. Results: Ninety point seven percent percent of mothers regularly withdrew the product. There were important problems in the preparation of "Purita Mama" by lower dilution (22 percent) or excessive concentration (50.8 percent). The overall assessment of the product showed an average of 3 (regular) on a scale of 1 to 5 in pregnant and lactating women, highlighting negative opinions about the excessive s weetness (19.2 percent) and strong aroma (49.9 percent). The median overall assessment of the mothers was 3 (regular) on a scale of 1 to 5, without significant differences between pregnant and lactating women. The median consumption of the beneficiaries was 250 ml/day, close to schedule and higher in the nursing women, although they receive more product. Eighty percent of mothers appreciate the nutritional benefits of the product to the mother or child. About 60 percent of mothers do not share the milk drink, which indicates a relatively low domestic dilution. Conclusions: there was no significant change in the level of acceptability of the product and the consumption levels were relatively adequate. It is important to enhance information on how to prepare the product, to propose different alternatives for consumption and eventually to consider alternatives of flavor.
Antecedentes: el Ministerio de Salud incorporó el año 2008 en el Programa Nacional de Alimentación Complementaria una bebida láctea para embarazadas y mujeres en lactancia, fortificada con EPA y DHA. El producto presentó inicialmente algún grado de rechazo en la población, lo que motivó modificar sus características organolépticas. Objetivo: evaluar en una muestra nacional la aceptabilidad y consumo de la 'Purita Mama" modificada, un año después de iniciar su distribución. Metodología: muestra aleatoria de 1.272 beneficiarías en 62 Consultorios y 21 Postas Rurales, de todo el país. Se aplicó una encuesta semi estructurada para evaluar retiro, aceptabilidad y consumo por las beneficiarías y otros miembros del hogar. Resultados: El 90,7 por ciento de las madres retiraba regularmente el producto. Se observaron importantes problemas en la preparación de Purita Mamá, por baja dilución (22 por ciento) o excesiva concentración (50,8 por ciento). La apreciación global del producto presentó una mediada de 3 en escala de 1 a 5 (regular) en embarazadas y nodrizas, destacando opiniones negativas respecto al excesivo dulzor (19,2 por ciento) y aroma fuerte (49,9 por ciento). La mediana de consumo de las embarazadas fue 250 mL/día, cercano a lo programado y algo superior en las nodrizas, aunque reciben mayor cantidad. El 86 por ciento de las madres valora positivamente las características nutricionales del producto para la madre o su hijo. Cerca del 60 por ciento de las madres no comparte la bebida láctea, lo que indica una dilución intrafamiliar relativamente baja. Conclusiones: no hubo un cambio importante en el nivel de aceptabilidad del producto y los niveles de consumo fueron relativamente adecuados. Es importante reforzar la información sobre la forma de preparar el producto, proponer diferentes alternativas de preparación y eventualmente considerar alternativas de sabor.
Subject(s)
Beverages , Nutrition Programs , Eating , Fatty Acids, Omega-3 , Pregnant Women , Milk , Foods for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers , ChileABSTRACT
We describe subject recruitment from the University of Chile School-Age Children Twin Registry (REMEUCHI). The research aim of REMEUCHI is to quantify the impact of genetic and environmental factors on scholastic achievement in a multicausal approach. The Ministry of Education of Chile, in collaboration with the Registry Office, provided the list of possible twin pairs graduated from high school in 2004 in Chile's metropolitan region. From a population of 70,065 school-age children who had graduated from high school, 434 possible twin pairs were analyzed. Of these, 327 were twins reared together (75.3% of the 434 possible twins pairs) and born between 1986 and 1987 in Chile (mean age 18 years), and approximately 8% were not twins despite matches on full name and birth data. The rest of the possible twin pairs were probably twins reared apart, since one member of the pair had moved to study in another region of Chile. Zygosity was determined through questionnaires, maternal reports of twin similarities, and by the hospital records of the twins at the time of birth. Three hundred and twenty-seven pairs were identified, where monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins represented 46.8% and 53.2% of pairs, respectively, with a DZ/MZ ratio of 1.14. Considering same-sex MZ pairs, the percentage of female pairs was greater (55.6%) than male pairs (44.4%). When DZ pairs were analyzed, 47.7% were of opposite sex, 20.1% were male pairs and 32.2% female pairs. In Chile, these findings represent a baseline study to contribute to the establishment of a national twin registry in the future.
