Childhood Malnutrition in Developing Countries
Childhood Malnutrition in Developing Countries
Childhood Malnutrition in Developing Countries
in Developing Countries
Definition:
Malnutrition is a nutritional imbalance resulting in undernutrition (underweight,
wasting, stunting), micronutrient deficiencies and overweight.
Acute Malnutrition
Clinical features:
• Low weight for height
• Wasting (Marasmus)
• Oedema (Kwashiorkor)
Causes:
• Illnesses
• Infectious diseases
• Food deprivation due to seasonal
shortages
• Sudden catastrophes
Effects:
• Weakened immunity
• Long-term developmental delays
• Increased risk of death
Chronic Malnutrition
Clinical features:
• Low height for age
• Stunting
Causes:
• Poor socioeconomic conditions
• Poor maternal health
• Frequent illnesses
• Inappropriate infant and young child
feeding and care in early life
Effects:
• Physical and cognitive disabilities
Classification of protein
energy malnutrition
Wellcome classification
• A healthy environment, including access to basic health, nutritious food, water, hygiene and
sanitation services and opportunities for safe physical activity
Successful interventions
Commercial fortification of staple foods with micronutrients
1996:
• Addition of folic acid to flour to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects, such as spina
bifida and anencephaly, a fatal condition.
• Subsequent assessments demonstrated that the prevalence of neural tube defects had
decreased by 19–32 per cent.
Communication campaign around feeding practices
Cash-transfer programmes, in particular, have proven benefits for the nutritional status and health
outcomes of children.
Take home message
• We as future doctors must play a part in identifying malnourished children and support them
through immediate treatment and counselling.
2. UNICEF [Internet]. UNICEF, New York. The State of the World’s Children 2019. Children,
Food and Nutrition: Growing well in a changing world; 2019 [cited 2020 March 2]. Available
from: https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-worlds-children-2019