-Ahdiya Tayyab
Although developing countries are going through growing and progressing economies, they are still suffering from a large number of malnutrition children.
The inequality in malnutrition always disfavors the poor but it’s not only the poor with higher rates of malnutrition but the rate almost always declines continuously as the living standards rise.
The high prevalence of chronic malnutrition is a development issue with major complexities due to its close association with poverty and inequality. We need to address poverty to progress in the hunger- and malnutrition-related Millennium Development Goals which are associated with the lack of supply of food and nutrition. To achieve the hunger- and malnutrition-related Millennium Development Goals, we need to address poverty, which is clearly associated with the insecure supply of food and nutrition.
Malnutrition therefore is the most important factor for the increasing risk and burden of diseases in developing countries. It directly causes about 300 000 deaths per year and is responsible indirectly for about half of all deaths in young children. The risk of death is directly correlated with the degree of malnutrition. Demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are largely responsible for malnutrition.
Malnutrition is excess, imbalance or deficiency in a person’s energy or nutrient intake. It is one the biggest global health challenges with every country being affected by it. The risk of malnutrition in particular is faced by women, children, infants and adolescents. These risks are amplified by poverty and poor people are more likely to be affected from it. Malnutrition reduces the productivity level, increases the cost of healthcare and slows economic growth conserving the poverty cycle.
Malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem throughout the developing world, particularly in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The populations there have deficient macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat), micronutrients (electrolytes, minerals and vitamins) or both in their diets. To achieve the hunger- and malnutrition-related Millennium Development Goals, we need to address poverty, which is clearly associated with the insecure supply of food and nutrition.
The main underlying cause of malnutrition and its determinants is poverty. What factors does the degree and distribution of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in a given population depends on? The political and economic situation, the level of education and sanitation, food production, breast-feeding habits, prevalence of infectious diseases and existence and effectiveness of nutrition programs and health services all contribute to the degree of malnutrition.
In children, protein–energy malnutrition is defined by measurements that fall below 2 standard deviations under the normal weight for age (underweight), height for age (stunting) and weight for height (wasting). Wasting indicates recent weight loss, whereas stunting usually results from chronic weight loss. In developing countries out of all the children under 5, about 31% are underweight, 38% have stunted growth and 9% show wasting. Malnutrition has a way of manifesting early, in children between 6 months and 2 years of age and is associated with early weaning, delayed introduction of complementary foods, a low-protein diet and severe or frequent infections.
According to WHO 47 million children under 5 are wasted, 14.3 million are severely wasted and 144 are stunted. Around 45% of the deaths of children under 5 are due to undernutrition and this occurs mostly in low- or middle-income countries.
The social, economic and developmental impacts of malnutrition are lasting and serious globally for the affected, their families, their communities and countries.
Malnutrition starts at an early age between birth to five years and remains persistent. It is also evident that higher malnutrition occurs more in rural areas than urban areas.
Because of malnutrition’s many causes and factors only multi sector interventions and programs can be effective. Interventions are needed in agriculture, micronutrients, sanitation and education for better diets. Actions should be taken for pregnant women, young children and attention should be given to gender issues. Out of the 8 millennium development goals set by states extreme hunger and poverty reduced by half in 2015 as compared to 1990’s but the other seven goals; primary education, empowerment of women, improved maternal health, child mortality rate, prevention of HIV/AIDS, environmental protection and global partnerships for development need progress because they directly or indirectly contribute to reduction of malnutrition in the developing world.
It’s not only the degree of socioeconomic inequality but also its pattern that adds in malnutrition. In developing countries therefore health policies should be targeted for the poor and in countries like sub Saharan Africa targeting the general population along with the poor should be focused.
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