Page

#CegahObatiWasting (#PreventTreatWasting)

A Guideline on Wasting, One of the Forms of Childhood Malnutrition

English
Bahasa Indonesia

What is Wasting & How to Identify Signs of Wasting

Wasted children have low weight for height and/or small mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC).

Boys

Girls

Signs of Wasted Children

Appears very thin

Loss of appetite or refusing to be breastfed

Swelling in both feet

Tampak sakit berat atau terlalu lemah untuk menyusu

Appears severely sick or too weak to breastfeed

Effects of Wasting

Low immunity

Children get sick easily due to infections

Hindered physical development

Wasted children are 3x more at risk to be stunted

Impaired cognitive development

Affecting learning abilities and productivity as an adult

At risk of developing non-communicable diseases as an adult

Including diabetes and heart diseases

Life-threatening

The mortality risk of wasted children is 12 times higher

Factors that Contribute to Wasting

Non-exclusive breastfeeding

Infants up to six months old should be exclusively breastfed, which means they receive just breastmilk and no other liquids or solids, including water

Inadequate complementary feeding

After six months, infants may not receive adequate, nutritious complementary feeding in quantity and frequency

Frequent illness when under five years

Children under five may be infected with diarrhoea, respiratory infections, cough, common cold, shortness of breath, worm infections, and other infectious diseases

Incomplete vaccination

Children may not receive vaccination at the appropriate age as recommended by healthcare providers

Untreated illnesses

When sick, children may not be taken immediately for treatment at a clinic or to consult with a health worker

Challenging hygiene and healthy habits

Hygiene and healthy habits are not adhered to by family members, including children, e.g. handwashing with soap and water, stop practicing open defecation