Resumen

MACIAS MATOS, Consuelo et al. Uso de suplementos vitamínicos por la población cubana. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2003, vol.29, n.3, pp.215-219. ISSN 0864-3466.

Due to the vitamins deficiencies found in the different studies conducted during the neuropathy epidemics in 1993, it was decided to distribute a vitamin supplement among the population. The need to continue promoting this vitamin intake was confirmed by other further evaluations of the nutritrional status of the population. In order to characterize the the vitamin supplements intake by the Cuban population, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted including quantitative information obtained from a probabilistic sample that was selected in coordination with the National Statistics Office and that involved 47 091 persons and qualitative information gathered by focal groups in 9 provinces with 4 population groups. The estimate attained with the survey data showed that 26.4 % of the population had vitamin supplements. The intake per province ranged between 12 % in the province of Holguin and 38.5 % in the province of Guantánamo. A population estimate by age groups was also calculated: 39.3 % of the group under 5, 34.5 % of the group 5-12, 23.8 % of the group 12-18, 22.0 % of the group 18-60, and 34 % of those over 60 were supplemented. On making the analysis by sex, it was found that the intake for females was 29 %, whereas it was 24 % for males. In the information collected through the focal groups in the 4 estrata of the population, there was the criterion that they did not have the supplement due to the lack of habit or to the fact that it increases appetite, or becuase they were expensive. Men considered they didn’t need it. Children and aged people were given priority in the family. The surveyed said that the supplement’s quality had improved and there were no great preferences for the foreign supplements. Lack of availability in most of the visited provinces and no stability in the sale were observed. According to the population’s criteria it was necessary to improve advertising, to sell the product in a fractional way, and to inform the people about food’s vitamin content

Palabras clave : AVITAMINOSIS; NUTRITION SURVEYS.

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