Issues and impact

Issues and impact

 

Issues and impact

© UNICEF DPRK

A mother and child participate in the Nutrition Assessment, October 2002.

High rates of child malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue in DPR Korea due to food shortages and the limited capacity of the country’s social services to respond.  The 2002 Government-UNICEF-WFP nutrition survey showed that 42 percent of the country’s children below seven years of age are chronically malnourished, 9 percent are acutely malnourished and 70,000 are severely malnourished, requiring special hospital care for their survival.  The same survey reported 32 percent maternal malnutrition (this was the first maternal nutrition assessment in DPR Korea).  The nutrition survey repeated in 2004 showed an improvement on the nutritional status of young children pointing to a positive trend. The 2004 survey reported the prevalance rates of stunting as 37%, underweight 23% and wasting 7%. A significant improvement is reported mostly among children 1-3 years old. However, malnutrition levels are still high according to WHO criteria.

Chronic malnutrition and ill health in DPR Korea suggest that the most strategic and effective entry point for UNICEF is to focus on early childhood development, inclusive of maternal care.  This will ensure that the best opportunities for survival, growth and optimal development of children, laying more solid foundations for their future well-being and learning capacity.

UNICEF’s nutrition projects in DPR Korea help to facilitate the optimal growth and development of young children.

Specifically, UNICEF is aiming to enhance the quality of care for children through improved family and institutional capacity, and through better care of women, as a key determinant of early childhood development.

The care for children and women project supports the promotion of a range of feeding and care practices for young children and pregnant and nursing mothers.  Parental involvement in care institutions (nurseries) are also major components of the project.

© UNICEF DPRK

Fortification of food for young children attending nurseries, kingergartens and orphanages contributes to reducing incidence of child malnutrition.

The micronutrients project supports food fortification and micronutrient supplementation.  UNICEF provides vitamins and minerals for fortification of locally produced blended food, a joint effort of the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF.  The fortified food is given as complementary food for children attending nurseries, kindergartens and child centers (orphanages).  Fortified noodles and blended food are given to women from 4 months of pregnancy to 6 months of lactation.  The project is also involved in enhancing production of iodized salt to provide universal coverage.

DPR Korea has also made strives forward in developing protocols for vitamin and mineral supplementation for women before and during pregnancy.  Such supplementation, which will reduce incidence of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women and protect newborn children from impaired growth and development, began in 2004 and will continue in the current country programme.

National child health days occur twice annually nationwide for vitamin A supplementation and deworming of young children.

Key results sought are that:

• By 2006, 10 focus counties/districts in 6 provinces and 2 municipalities will operate a new strategy for improved family and institutional care of young children and pregnant/nursing mothers, with sustained reduction in malnutrition and a plan to go to national scale.
• By 2005, all households will use iodized salt.
• During 2004-2006, all children and women receive adequate intake of critical micronutrients through supplementation and food fortification.

National child health days
National child health days are a feasible, cost-effective strategy for reaching almost all children in DPR Korea with a package of critical health interventions.

Focus counties/districts
Integrated multisectoral action in focus counties/districts is one of the two main UNICEF strategies in DPR Korea.

2002 Nutrition Assessment
In 2002, the Government of DPR Korea, in cooperation with UNICEF and the World Food Programme, carried out a nutrition assessment in seven provinces and three cities.  The aim of the assessment was to determine the nutritional status of children less than seven years of age and of their mothers, and to analyze the importance of possible causal factors.
[PDF]
(PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.)

Analyzing the causes of child stunting in DPR Korea
The purpose of this report is to use the information collected in the 2002 nutrition survey to investigate the possible causes of stunting, and suggest ways to improve the situation of children and women in DPR Korea, especially in the provinces most affected.
[PDF]
(PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.)