Malnutrition across the globe Regional trends Global trends Dr Anthony Wemakor Dept of Community Nutrition SMHS-UDS Oct 2013
Underweight Underweight is defined as weight-for-age below -2 SD from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards Underweight is a composite measure of stunting and wasting Underweight prevalence in children 0-5 yrs. is an indicator for the “Hunger Target” of MDG 1
No. of Countries – Underweight prevalence (0-5 y) RegionTotal n (%) Improving n (%) No change n (%) Deterioratin g n (%) Africa42 (100)18 (43)10 (24)14 (33) Asia25 (100)14 (56)10 (40)1 (4) South & Central America & Caribbean 19 (100)6 (32)11 (58)2 (11) Total86 (100)38 (44)31 (36)17 (20) Change of 2 percentage points between surveys was taken as improving or deteriorating
Underweight (0-5 y) trends - Africa
Underweight (0-5 y) trends - Asia
Underweight (0-5 y) trends – Latin America & Caribbean
Underweight (0-5 y) trends – Global
Progress towards Hunger Goal (MDG1) Africa has made insufficient progress Underweight target for % Underweight rate 21.5% (1990) % (2007) Asia is on track Underweight target for % Underweight rate 33.8% (1990) – 21.6% (2007) Eastern Asia has met MDG1 Goal Latin America has met Goal Underweight target for % Underweight rate 7.5% (1990) – 3.8% (2007)
Stunting Stunting is defined as height-for-age below -2 SD from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards Stunting is a result of chronic malnutrition i.e. prolonged food deprivation and/or illness
No. of Countries – Stunting prevalence (0-5 y) RegionTotal n (%) Improving n (%) No change n (%) Deterioratin g n (%) Africa29 (100)12 (41)6 (21)11 (38) Asia20 (100)13 (65)6 (30)1 (5) South & Central America & Caribbean 14 (100)6 (43)7 (50)1 (7) Total63 (100)31 (49)19 (30)13 (21) Change of 2 percentage points between surveys was taken as improving or deteriorating
Stunting (0-5 y) trends - Africa
Stunting (0-5 y) trends - Asia
Stunting (0-5 y) trends – Latin America & Caribbean
Stunting (0-5 y) trends – Global
Low birth weight (LBW) LBW is defined as birth weight less than 2,500g Highly correlated with perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality Reduction of LBW will contribute to attainment of the MDG4
No. of Countries – LBW RegionTotal n (%) Improving n (%) No change n (%) Deterioratin g n (%) Sub-Saharan Africa 28 (100)9 (32)13 (46)6 (21) Middle East & North Africa 4 (100)-3 (75)1 (25) Asia10 (100)4 (40) 2 (20) Latin America & Caribbean 15 (100)3 (20)8 (53)4 (27) Total60* (100)17 (28)30 (50)13 (22) *Includes 3 newly created States Change of 2 percentage points between surveys was taken as improving or deteriorating
Incidence of LBW - Africa
Incidence of LBW - Asia
Incidence of LBW – Latin America & Caribbean
Incidence of LBW – Global
Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) Assessed using serum retinol concentration VAD: low serum retinol <20µg/dl or <0.7µmol/l
VA Deficiency trends - Africa
VA Deficiency trends - Asia
VA Deficiency – South and Central America & Caribbean
VA Deficiency trends – Global