Nutrition and population growth: the delicate balance. l. Policies for U.S. assistance to developing countries.

The interaction between nutrition and population growth in developing countries is examined from 3 perspectives: the physiological relationships demographic and psychosocial determinants of family size and the assessment of integrated programs which simultaneously address nutritional status and population growth rates. The research findings from these perspectives are synthesized and policy implications are delineated. The 3 major ways in which changes in nutritional status or practice may exert physiological effects on fertility and population growth are reviewed. They are: reduced infant and child mortality caused by improved nutritional status reduced birth intervals caused by declines in breastfeeding and increased fecundity caused by improvement in maternal nutritional status. The ways in which fertility affects nutritional status and mortality provide a rationale for combining family planning with nutrition and primary health care programs. Several theories link psychosocial responses to declines in infant and child mortality to changes in fertility behavior. Development indicators such as level of educational attainment ubranization and womens employment have also revealed links between nutrition and fertility. Changes in the perceived value of children which correspond to developmental progress is a key correlate. The details of these interrelationships and correlations are reviewed and highlighted with policy recommendations. The integration of nutrition and population programs has received wide support because such programs provide more effective treatment for overlapping problems more efficient outreach at reduced cost and more rapid adoption of new practices. The approaches reviewed describe community health and nutrition family planning and rural development based interventions. Other strategies are briefly mentioned. A summary of the policy and program design recommendations which are interspersed throughout the text conclude the report.