title: [The tortilla subsidy in Mexico: a nutritional or economic program?].
abstract: To evaluate the impact of the tortilla subsidy on the family food consumption, on its economy and on the nutritional condition of women and under five children, from three marginal zones, with the purpose of focus nutritional interventions. Fifty families were randomly selected in each one of three similar low income sectors of the Oaxaca city. One received subsidy, other has never received it and the third received it five years ago but not at present. Anthropometry was performed in all women of reproductive age and children under five years old. In the first BMI was the indicator used and in children weight for age with two standard deviations was the cut-off point. The tortilla represents between 13.6% to 20% of the family expenditure. Anyhow the energy, protein and some nutrient consumption was higher. The malnutrition index was better in the subsidy community as 12.0% of under five children were low weight for age against 19.2% in the other two communities. The tortilla family expenditure represents 45% of their income and the subsidy reduces it 9%, surely this help a better nutrient consumption and improves the nutritional condition of the poor and marginated urban sectors of the society.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Geografía, Estadística e Informática, México, D.F.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shamah Levy
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avila Curiel
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuevas Nasu
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chávez Villasana
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Avila Arcos
authors.forename: Carlota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population