Question

Describe five different mechanisms or means that one could pursue to prevent or reduce micronutrient deficiencies and provide an example for each that has been applied to improve the dietary quality of food for an at risk population.

Answer 1

Five different mechanisms or means that one could pursue to prevent or reduce micronutrient deficiencies are supplementation, dietary diversification, fortification, laboratory services, information-education-communication.

Supplementation:- eg. supplementation given in maternal and child health and immunization programmes and in community-based growth monitoring ,all of which facilitate the administration of iodized oil as well as vitamin A and iron supplements to both children and mothers, at consequently much less overhead cost.

Dietary diversification- It is usually food-based approaches have the natural advantage of being suitable for several micronutrients and it any involves many foods, especially green leafy vegetables and orange-coloured vegetables and fruits which are relatively rich in carotene, iron, ascorbic acid, folates and B-vitamin.

fortification:-One of the main eg:- Salt is the principal vehicle which is almost universally consumed at levels which are constant enough to constitute a good basis for a fortification programme.

Laboratory services:- Laboratory service is essential for  For accurate assessment of micronutrient malnutrition problems.eg. measurment of iodine in salt in iodation programme.

Information-education-communication:- It is the most important supporting strategy. For eg, social marketing approaches are appropriate for promotion of programmes for overcoming micronutrient malnutrition.

Hope this helps you.Thank you!?