Applied nutritional geography: Priorities and praxis

Abstract

In the course of several years of nutritional research in East Java specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies were found to be more widespread than undernutrition. Appropriate nutritional technologies were sought to cure xeropthalmia and goitre and it was found that the villagers could cure themselves by eating a mixture of papaya and cassava leaves and rubbing their necks with tincture of iodine respectively. These treatments were field tested and an audio-visual nutritional education programme was devised to disseminate information on self-treatment. Some of the practical difficulties encountered in setting up these and one other programme which failed are discussed.