Objective: To evaluate the effect of a nutrition improvement project based on home garden production and nutrition education on morbidity from acute respiratory infection and diarrhoeal disease in preschool children. Design: The morbidity survey comprised five data collections undertaken by trained interviewers to ascertain the incidence and severity of respiratory infections and the incidence of diarrhoeal disease in children in two communes. Setting: A project commune and a control commune in Vietnam. Subjects: Preschool children to 6 years of age living in the project commune Khai Xuan (average 469 children) and the control commune Ching Cong (average 251 children). Main outcome measures: Differences between the two communes over time in the incidence and severity of respiratory infections and the incidence of diarrhoeal disease. Results: In Khai Xuan there was a significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in the incidence of respiratory infections (from 49.5% to 11.2%) and diarrhoeal infections (18.3% to 5.1%); the incidence of pneumonia and severe pneumonia was also significantly reduced (P < 0.0001). In Ching Cong there was no significant change in the incidence and severity of respiratory disease nor in the incidence of diarrhoeal disease. Conclusions: These findings emphasise the successful health outcome of a nutrition project based on household food production and nutrition education and the value of evaluating nutrition projects by reference to measurable health outcomes.

A national survey covering all States and Territories was conducted in urban and rural schools to determine the iron status of Australian children and adolescents. This article reports the results of blood analyses for 1696 schoolchildren aged 9, 12 and 15 years. The measures of iron status analysed were plasma levels of iron, transferrin and ferritin. Results for all of these measures were available for 1204 of the schoolchildren for whom iron status was assessed based on the plasma ferritin and transferrin saturation model. Iron status was generally satisfactory in the 9, 12 and 15 year old boys and the 9 and 12 year old girls. There was a marked and statistically significantly higher prevalence of iron deficiency among the 15 year old girls. These results are discussed in relation to the food and nutrient intakes of 12 and 15 year old children who also participated in the 1985 National Dietary Survey of Schoolchildren.

I. The dietary intakes of twenty-six women were investigated during their first pregnancy, at 6-8 weeks post-partum and at 6 months post-partum or after the cessation of breast-feeding.2 . Of this group, sixteen subjects were apparently breast-feeding satisfactorily at 6-8 weeks post-partum, as judged by the average weekly weight gain of their infants (202 g). 3. Changes in food consumption and nutrient intake were studied, together with changes in body-weight and activity. The subjects did not consume more calories during pregnancy. It appeared that this was a result of dietary advice received plus some curtailment of activity during pregnancy. There was an increase in intake of nutrients during lactation.4. Intakes of iron during the third trimester of pregnancy and of ascorbic acid during lactation were 1.9 k 0 . 3 mg (16 %) and 26 7.3 mg (26 %) respectively below the allowances recommended by the (Australian) National Health and Medical Research Council. The significance of these intakes is discussed. 5.No difference was detected in the diets during pregnancy of women who breast-fed compared with those who did not.

The 1983 National Dietary Survey of Adults and the 1983 Risk Factor Prevalence Survey No. 2, conducted on the same subjects, provided an opportunity to examine the nutrient intakes of smokers (1024 men and 785 women) and nonsmokers (1974 men and 2421 women). The nutrients analysed were energy (kJ); fat (g/day and contribution to energy); starch (contribution to energy); dietary fibre (g/day and g/1000 kJ); alcohol (g/1000 kJ); polpnsaturated/saturated fats ratio; cholesterol, niacin, viramin C, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium (mg/1000 kJ); and vitamin A, thiamin and riboflavin (pg/l000 kJ). For both men and \voinen, nonsmokers have a signif- EPIDEMIOLOGIST -Department of OphthalmologyThe University of Melbourne is an internationally recognised teaching and research institution. Commitment to excellence is demonstrated by innovative academic programs and i t s record as Australia's largest recipient of competitive research funding.The Position: Statistical analysis and interpretation for the Visual Impairment Project, assistance with preparation of competitive grant applications, epidemiologiclbiostatical consultation t o Department members, supervision of Systems Administrator, and development and presentation of scientific papers.The Person: You will have postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, such as PhD o r medical degree with an MPH, and relevant practical experience, including publication of scientific papers. Proficiency with statistical software packages such as SAS o r SPSS is essential. .Victoria. 3052; fax +61 3 9344 4694 by 30 April 1997. Quote position number BOO05088 and include the names (with phone and facsimile numbers) of three referees in your application.The Position : Statistical analysis and interpretation for the incidence component of the Visual Impairment Project (VIP), a cluster random population study of age-related eye disease in three Victorian cohorts; and development and presentation of scientific papers based on the VIP results.The prospective VIP data will require hierarchical modelling to account for changes in risk factors and outcomes, while controlling for the various sampling fractions and clusters; and to estimate the variances accurately. The Person: You will have a PhD in biostatistics, and relevant practical experience, including publication of scientific papers. Proficiency with statistical s o b a r e packages such as SAS, SPSS o r STATA is essential. The Benefits: Salary $43,042-55 I, I I3 per annum (Research Fellow Grade 2) Duration: I year further appointment is dependent on the successful progress of the study. Contact: Dr. Cathy McCarty Tel +61 3 9665 9564, Fax: +61 3 9662 3859, fax +61 3 9344 4694 by 30 April 1997. Quote position number 800051 10 and include the names (with phone and facsimile numbers) of three referees in your application.

The 1983 National Dietary Survey of Adults and the 1983 Risk FactorPrevalence Survey No. 2, conducted on the same subjects, provided an opportunity to examine the nutrient intakes of smokers (1024 men and 785 women) and nonsmokers (1974 men and 2421 women). The nutrients analysed were energy (kJ); fat (g/day and contribution to energy); starch (contribution to energy); dietary fibre (g/day and g/1000 kJ); alcohol (g/1000 kJ); polpnsaturated/saturated fats ratio; cholesterol, niacin, viramin C, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium (mg/1000 kJ); and vitamin A, thiamin and riboflavin (pg/l000 kJ). For both men and \voinen, nonsmokers have a significantly higher intake of starch, dietary fibre (g/day and g/1000 kJ), thiamin, vitamin C , calcium and magnesium than smokers, who have a significantly higher intake of alcohol. Male smokers also have a higher intake of energy and cholesterol, but a lower intake of' riboflavin, than nonsmokers. These differences in nutrient intakes suggest that nonsmokers consume a more nutritious diet than smokers, in regard to having a higher intake of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals and milk and milk products. There is a highly statistically significant association between smoking status and hazardous intake of alcohol. Both men and women who smoke have a significantly lower body mass index (BMI), than nonsmokers or ex-smokers. (Aust SZJPublic Health 1997; 21: 141-6) ODAY there is a growing emphasis on prevention of chronic disease, through modifiiing T lifestyle factors that influence the risk for such diseases as coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke, and cancer. These life-style factors include smoking, particularly cigarette smoking, physical activity and diet.'.' The cost of health problems in the United States associated with smoking, including medical care, absenteeism, and decreased work productivity has been estimated to be $68 billion per year." In Australia, it has recently been reported that active cigarette smoking accounted for an estimated 15 per cent of deaths (18 920 deaths) from all causes in all age groups, and 22 per cent (8044 deaths) of all deaths among 35-to 69-year-olds.' Causes of these deaths included tobacco-related cardiovascular disease, smoking-induced cancers, and tobacco-related obstructive pulmonary disease. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has estimated that in 1989-90, the health care costs of tobacco-related disease in Australia was $672 million.Many attempts have been made to identify differences between smokers and nonsmokers in terms of physiological, psychological, cognitive and sociocultural variables, and health-related behaviours, including diet and exercise patterns.'-''' It is possible that an association between smoking and other Correspondence t u Dr R u t h English, 4 0 , 1'0 Box 1491, Soma Heads, Qld 1567. Fax ( 0 7 ) 5449 201.5 health-related behaviours might seme as a confounder-thus the health consequences of a poor diet might be attributed to smoking.Smoking has been shown to be associated wi...