Nutrition and national development: the case of Chile

Int J Health Serv. 1979;9(3):495-510. doi: 10.2190/K8BM-C7WW-92HY-P8NF.

Abstract

This study is an historical analysis of food consumption and nutrition in Chile emphasizing the influence of political and economic factors on nutritional standards. It attempts to document and explain the persistence of malnutrition as a widespread social problem in Chile even as the country achieved a relatively advanced state of economic development and boasted an unusually progressive record of social legislation. The major findings of the study were: (a) Chile's pattern of development, social reform efforts notwithstanding, consistently discriminated against low-income groups, and (b) this discrimination perpetuated low standards of nutrition and low levels of food consumption among the country's poor and undermined the effectiveness of specific measures to alleviate malnutrition.

PIP: In the period from 1930 to 1970, Chile experienced economic growth as well as social and political changes. The per capita income more than doubled reaching upwards of $500/year by 1970. There was, however, consistent discrimination against low-income groups. As Chile became industrialized, there were no significant changes for the majority of the population who lost purchasing power by more than 1/3 from 1952 to 1970. Rural areas showed the most stratification of the economic classes with large landowners who comprised 2% of the rural population, controlling more than 65% of the land. 25% of the rural population, i.e., substance farmers, held approximately 1% of the cultivated land. The Chilean agricultural sector could not keep up with the population growth of the area, probably due to a combination of government discrimination and the social structure, during this 1930 to 1970 period. Government expenditures on health, education, and other social services increased from 28% of total government expenditures in 1940 to about 50% in 1970. The primary component was the social security system, but this only covered about 70% of the population and excluded many lower income strata workers, e.g., rural workers, recent migrants. Government services tended to reinforce the inequalities of the socioeconomic groups in Chile, rather than alleviate them. At least 21 surveys have been done on the nutritional status of children since 1940. 2 inferences can be drawn: 1) malnutrition was a long-time characteristic of a portion of Chile's population, and 2) the extent and seriousness of nutritional deprivations increased with declining income levels and their socioeconomic indicators. The data on food availability and consumption is not wholly reliable, although based on recent surveys it is likely that food consumption by low income groups probably did not increase by any significant amount between 1935 and 1970; nutritional deprivation affected 1/3 or more of the families. Infant mortality sharply decreased during the 1930 to 1970 period, although the drop occurred primarily in the higher income brackets. With the election of Salvador Allende in 1970, many changes were made in an attempt to move toward socialism. These changes included nationalizing foreign and domestically owned industry, bringing most mining and banking operations under state ownership, and redistribution of income, which resulted in a rise in the demand, particularly for food. When the military junta toppled Allende in September 1973, social changes and reforms were assigned a low priority. Also in 1973, the unemployment rate in both urban and rural areas rose reaching between 20% and 30% in 1976. The health and education sectors of the government have had the greatest influence of any programs aimed at eradicating malnutrition. 2 examples are the Milk Distribution program begun in 1937 and the School Feeding program begun in 1928. Another, the New Protein Foods programs were designed to develop protein concentrated formulae from nonconventional foods. The only lasting products of these attempts are 2 milk substitutes. In addition to these specific interventions, there have been several unsucessful attempts to develop government councils for Food and Nutrition. Malnutrition still remains a feature of Chile's social order, reinforced by the country's economic development strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Chile
  • Economics
  • Humans
  • Hunger
  • Industry
  • Infant
  • National Health Programs*
  • Nutrition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Nutrition Disorders / prevention & control
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Poverty*
  • Public Policy*
  • Social Justice
  • Social Work