Nutrition
[Français]
Malnutrition contributes to 35 per cent of child deaths in the region. Malnutrition and child mortality This human suffering and waste happen because of illness — much of it preventable; because breastfeeding is stopped too early; because children’s nutritional needs are not sufficiently understood; because long-entrenched prejudices imprison women and children in poverty. Causes of child malnutrition Malnutrition is usually the result of a combination of inadequate dietary intake and infection. To get a measure of malnutrition in a population, young children can be weighed and measured and the results compared to those of a ‘reference population’ known to have grown well. Measuring weight and height is the most common way of assessing malnutrition in populations. Malnutrition can take a variety of forms that often appear in combination and contribute to each other, such as protein-energy malnutrition, iodine deficiency disorders and deficiencies of iron and vitamin A, to name a few. Many involve deficiencies of ‘micronutrients’ — substances like vitamin A and iodine that the human body cannot make itself but that are needed, often in only tiny amounts, to ensure adequate bodily functions. Each type of malnutrition is the result of a complex interplay of factors involving such diverse elements as household access to food, child and maternal care, safe water and sanitation and access to basic health services. A few figures High time to act
*** La malnutrition contribue à 35 pour cent des décès d’enfants de moins de cinq ans dans la région. Les enfants mal nourris tombent malade plus souvent. Quand ils survivent, ils peuvent souffrir d’handicap mental ou physique durable. Malnutrition et mortalité des enfants S’attaquer à la malnutrition est essentiel pour réaliser les Objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement visant à réduire la malnutrition infantile (OMD 1) et la mortalité des enfants de moins de cinq ans (OMD 4) de deux tiers d’ici à 2015. Les autres objectifs liés à la santé - l'OMD 5 sur la santé maternelle et l'OMD 6 sur la lutte contre les principales maladies - sont eux aussi étroitement liés à la nutrition, tant il est vrai qu'un organisme dénutri est en tout point plus vulnérable. Il est grand temps d’agir
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Tackling child malnutrition | Lutter contre la malnutrition infantile (en anglais) [View photo essay] Publications Resources | Ressources Related information | Autres informations Feature | Reportage |
