all countries should design and implement special programmes to address the nutritional needs of women of childbearing age especially those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and should give particular attention to the prevention and management of nutritional anaemia and iodinedeficiency disorders priority should be accorded to improving the nutritional and health status of young women through education and training as part of maternal health and safe motherhood programmes adolescent females and males should be provided with information education and counselling to help them delay early family formation premature sexual activity and first pregnancy