Progress toward meeting the 1990 nutrition objectives for the nation: Nutrition services and data collection in state/territorial health agencies

Promoting health, preventing disease, objectives for the Nation, specifies nutrition as a priority area for improving the health of Americans by 1990. Eleven of the 15 nutrition objectives target adults or the public while four address pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children. To determine progress by states toward achieving the nutrition objectives, the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors conducted a survey in 1985 to which 54 state and territorial nutrition directors responded. Three-fourths of the nutrition personnel focused efforts on maternal and child populations, and were supported largely by frederal funds from the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. Only 15 percent were funded by state and local sources. Whilst most agencies reported using nutrition consultation in adult health programs, only 25 percent paid for these personnel. Data to monitor progress were commonly available for only five of the 15 objectives. Achievement of the nutrition objectives by states will require a more comprehensive approach to nutrition programming with increased allocation of appropriate resources and expansion of health data systems.