Uses of Food Consumption and Anthropometric Surveys in the Caribbean How to Transform Data into Decision-Making Tools Prepared in collaboration with the FIVIMS Secretariat by a team from The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute The Pan American Health Organization And the World Health Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome 2004
	Table of Contents

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Contents

FOREWORD

PREFACE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. THE USE OF FOOD CONSUMPTION SURVEYS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Background
The uses of food consumption survey data
Previous Caribbean experiences

2. OVERVIEW OF FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ANTHROPOMETRIC SURVEYS

Purpose of the surveys
Who can use this information?
Types of surveys
The importance of clarifying survey objectives
Planning surveys
Implementing surveys

3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE APPROACHES TO DIETARY ASSESSMENT

Quantitative approaches to dietary assessment
Qualitative approaches to dietary assessment
Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in food consumption studies

4. ANTHROPOMETRY FOR POLICY AND PLANNING

Uses of anthropometry
Key considerations in anthropometric assessments
Applications of anthropometry in reducing nutritional risks at different stages of the life cycle

5. TRANSFORMING FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA INTO INFORMATION

The role of food composition tables in transforming data
Choosing indicators appropriate for the Caribbean

6. THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ANTHROPOMETRIC INFORMATION IN DECISION-MAKING

Potential application of surveys in the Caribbean
Types of information that can be obtained from nutrition surveys
Factors that facilitate policy action

SUMMARY

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING

ANNEXES

Annex I. Potential users and uses of information from food consumption and anthropometric surveys
Annex II. Conducting food consumption and anthropometric surveys
Annex III. Checklist of considerations for food consumption and anthropometric surveys
Annex IV. Resource needs
Annex V. Overview of steps to develop a quantitative food frequency questionnaire
Annex VI. Key concepts in qualitative research
Annex VII. Suggested components of a survey report