The IssuesInfants and young children who are not breastfed, and especially exclusive breastfed, for the first six months after birth are more at risk of getting sick and dying. The risk increases, if complementary feeding is introduced inadequately, if a child is malnourished and if his or her food lacks micronutrients - vital vitamins and minerals in small doses. The lack of micronutrients affects the child’s future and leads to such consequences as poor learning abilities, lowered productivity and damage to intellectual and social development. Malnutrition is an underlying cause of 60% of deaths among children under five. According to a Damage Assessment Report on micronutrient deficiencies in Kyrgyzstan, if no action is taken to overcome this problem:
Only 35.6% of infants are exclusively breastfed until months of age and 27.7% are breastfed along with proper complementary feeding (from 6 to 20-23 months). Around 90% of the population is aware that consumption of iodised salt helps to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Almost all salt consumed by the population is iodized, but still only 78% contains a sufficient amount of iodine in it. 92% of children under five and post-partum women received Vitamin A capsules in 2004 (Report on Vitamin A Campaign of 2004) Half of all children under three years of age and one third of children under five suffer from iron deficiency anaemia. (UNICEF assessment of Vitamin A deficiency prevalence, KAN/UNICEF CARK, 2003). Up to 38% of women suffer from anaemia which undermines the health of their babies. (DHS, 1997). Only 13% of households consume flour that is fortified with iron (UNICEF Survey, 2004).
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