[Nutritional survey in Upper Volta. I. Importance and forms of malnutrition].

The nutritional status of a randomly selected sample population has been investigated in Upper Volta in 1978. The estimated mortality rate among the preschool children population (0-5 years) is as high as 39%. Up to 6% of the children 0-9 years old were found to be wasted and stunted. Older children and adults are regularly underweight although their muscular arm circumference is an average acceptable by reference to international standard. The prevalence of anemia in the whole population is round 30% and case of xerophthalmia may be observed in the country.