[A socioeconomic evaluation of the delivery of "Purita" milk to pregnant women in Chile].

A cost-effectiveness socio-economic evaluation of powdered milk delivery in Chile is presented. This 26% fat powdered milk is distributed free of cost to underweight pregnant women through primary health care services technically dependent on the Ministry of Health. A previous pilot study allowed to estimate the change in birth weight distribution associated to the absence of this milk supplementation program. The expected infant mortality rates and health care costs that would follow suggest that the milk supplementation program saves about $10 per infant.