BACKGROUND
In the last few decades, the eating habits in the Caribbean have been changing. Food consumption habits and food demand and supply patterns have altered significantly since the 1980s. More unbalanced diets containing a smaller range of nutrients are being consumed. In general, these trends have resulted in less reliance on domestically produced commodities and foods such as root crops and fruits that have made up traditional diets, and greater reliance on imported commodities, fast foods, animal products and refined carbohydrates.
This can be seen as a result of increasing urbanization, the economic reforms emerging from structural-adjustment policies and intensifying globalization. For some countries, the impending removal of traditional preferential trade agreements and the opening-up of markets threaten to undermine the domestic agricultural and food sectors.
A consequence of this is that today chronic diseases - strokes, heart disease, diabetes and cancer - are the cause of most deaths in the Caribbean. Since nutrition is the single most important element in preventing and managing these chronic diseases, assessing dietary intake is vital in determining the nutritional risk associated with these diseases. While food balance sheet data can track trends in food availability, the degree and extent of the dietary changes and food consumption patterns at the individual and household levels have not been quantified in the Caribbean.
Food consumption surveys (research into what people eat) can ascertain the characteristics of groups that might be at risk because of inadequate or excessive intake of nutrients. They indicate the dietary changes needed in order to attain the dietary goals for improved health and well-being. Surveys can detect the extent of these nutritional deficiencies and the necessary educational programmes required to address them. Further, these surveys can identify populations at nutritional risk for possible intervention with fortification, supplementation and programmes.
As a result, it is important that comprehensive food consumption and nutrition surveys are carried out throughout the region. These will generate valuable data on the adequacy of food, energy and nutrient intakes and consumption patterns of individuals and households. This information will enable policy makers to understand, quantify and specify the causes of the health and nutrition problems in the Caribbean and as a result guide the design and implementation of specific food and nutrition related intervention programmes.
PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION
This document is a contribution to both the methodological framework underlying consumption and nutrition surveys and the collection, analysis and use of relevant dietary, anthropometric and food security information. In particular, this publication seeks to build on past work and experiences of two organizations that have assisted Caribbean countries in the conduct of food consumption surveys in the past - the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and CFNI (the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute) - by developing an analytical review to inform the planning and use of household consumption and nutrition surveys in the future. We draw on the experiences of Caribbean countries and outline the lessons learned in conducting food consumption and anthropometric surveys and show how the information can be used in a variety of settings.
The general objective is to improve household food security and nutritional status through an understanding of the quality and adequacy of the diet of the Caribbean people and the factors that affect nutritional status and food consumption. The specific objectives are to:
evaluate and analyse past experiences in planning and implementing food consumption and anthropometric surveys in the region;
use these experiences in conjunction with current advancements to build demand by decision-makers for such surveys;
highlight how important these surveys are as analytical tools in food and nutrition policy and programme design, and in the targeting and monitoring of nutritional goals.
WHO IS THIS DOCUMENT TARGETED TO?
The document is targeted to a wide range of users:
policy-makers and technical staff in government ministries;
members of NGOs;
researchers in academic and private institutions.
Here, it is demonstrated to users how food consumption and anthropometric surveys can:
ascertain the size and nature of groups that might be at risk of inadequate or excessive intake of nutrients;
show the dietary modifications necessary to achieve the dietary goals for improved health and well-being;
determine the extent of nutritional deficiencies and indicate the educational programmes required to address them;
identify populations at nutritional risk for possible intervention with fortification, education and supplemental programmes.
The intention is not to produce a manual on how to conduct these surveys, but to demonstrate how information that is generated from the surveys can contribute to effective decision-making on food and nutrition in the Caribbean. It is anticipated that the document will also support regional initiatives in capacity building, including training
