Issues
Only five percent of infants aged 0-3 months are exclusively breastfed. Similar to other countries in transition, obesity of children is a huge problem in BIH. UNICEF's figures reveal the fact that every fifth child bellow age of five in BIH is obese, which is a consequence of inadequate diet based on carbohydrates. The experts describe this as "hidden hunger", or unreasonable import of empty calories, which may affect their healthy development. Also, a mild presence of iodine defficiency is present in BIH and 7,8% of school schildren have goitre as a consequence.
According to the official sources, the under-five mortality rate of 18 per 1,000 live births is close to the Western European average; however there are concerns about underreporting. One fifth of children are not fully vaccinated. The immunization rate among marginalized groups, especially Roma, is bellow average. Acoording to UNCIEF's good parenting project, only 6% of Roma was fully immunized. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers BIH country at risk of poliomielitis (child paralysis) outbreak, especially among children who are not immunized.
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