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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.84.9943. Pawar, P. (2021). Malnutrition among Children: Some Reviews from India, Developing and Underdeveloped Countries. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 65-70.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Malnutrition among Children: Some Reviews from India,
Developing and Underdeveloped Countries
Dr. Pratima Pawar
Department of Sociology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur,Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT
Nutrition has major effects on health. Malnutrition refers to any imbalance in
satisfying nutrition requirements. Malnutrition is often cited as an important factor
contributing to high morbidity and mortality among children in developing
countries. Malnourished children are more likely to grow into malnourished adults
who face increased risks of disease and death. A number of factors affect child
nutrition, either directly or indirectly. The most commonly cited factors are food
availability and dietary intake, breastfeeding, prevalence of infectious and parasitic
diseases, vitamin A supplementation, maternal care during pregnancy, water supply
and sanitation, socio-economic status, and health-seeking behavior. Thus
malnutrition is a serious problem which directly or indirectly affects the social and
economic development of a nation. The present paper focuses on the scenario of
malnutrition based on the reviews in different developing countries including India.
Key Words: Malnutrition, Nutrition, Under Nutrition, Morbidity, Mortality
INTRODUCTION
Nutrition has major effects on health. Nutrition refers to the availability of energy and nutrients
to the body’s cells in relation to body requirements. Malnutrition refers to any imbalance in
satisfying nutrition requirements. Malnutrition among children is often caused by the synergistic
effects of inadequate or improper food intake, repeated episodes of parasitic or other childhood
diseases such as diarrhea, and improper care during illness. Malnutrition is often cited as an
important factor contributing to high morbidity and mortality among children in developing
countries. Malnutrition during childhood can also affect growth potential and risk of morbidity
and mortality in later years of life. Malnourished children are more likely to grow into
malnourished adults who face increased risks of disease and death.[1] 153.
A number of factors affect child nutrition, either directly or indirectly. The most commonly cited
factors are food availability and dietary intake, breastfeeding, prevalence of infectious and
parasitic diseases, vitamin A supplementation, maternal care during pregnancy, water supply
and sanitation, socio-economic status, and health-seeking behavior. Demographic characteristics
such as the child’s age and sex, birth intervals, and mother’s age at child-birth are also associated
with child nutrition.[1]153.
Scenario of malnutrition in India: Malnutrition is a serious problem, especially for infants and
young children. It reflects an imbalance of both macro and micro-nutrients that may be due to
inappropriate intake and/or inefficient biological utilization due to the internal and external
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 4, April-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
environment. Poor feeding practices during infancy and early childhood, resulting in
malnutrition, contribute to impaired cognitive and social development, poor school performance,
and reduced productivity in later life. Malnutrition, therefore, is a major threat to social and
economic development as it is among the most serious obstacles to attaining and maintaining the
health of this important age group. According to the United Nations Standing Committee on
nutrition, 2006, undernutrition is the main threat to health and well-being not only in middle and
low-income countries but also globally [ Global Hunger Index,GHI,2010 ]. [1]155.
Over half ( 54%) of all childhood deaths in India are related to malnutrition. Nearly 30 per cent
of the global childhood deaths attributed to stunting, severe wasting, and intrauterine growth
restriction- low birth weight occur in India. In 2005-06, about 44 per cent of Indian children
under 5 were underweight, and 48 per cent were stunted due to chronic malnutrition. Due to
country’s size, this means India is home to 42 per cent of the world’s underweight children and
31 per cent of the world’s stunted children. The proportion of stunted and undernourished
children is 19-21 times higher than expected for a healthy, well-nourished population according
to international child growth standards. [1].
High levels of child under nutrition are driven by the low nutritional and social status of women.
Forty percent of women in India have low body mass, a factor in low-birth weight, Twenty eight
per cent of children born in India are low-birth weight, indicating intrauterine under nutrition.
Nearly half of low-birth weight babies are currently stunted or underweight, compared to one- third of normal birth weight babies. Nearly 40 per cent of all low-birth weight babies in the world
are born in India. Under nutrition indicators in India also follow lines of inequity- under nutrition
is substantially higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and children from scheduled tribes have
the poorest nutritional status on nearly every measure and the highest prevalence of wasting
(28%) among under-fives. [1]156.
The proportion of severely underweight children is nearly five times higher among children
whose mothers have no education than mothers who have 12 or more years of school. However,
under nutrition is a considerable issue even among wealthier families; even in households within
the highest wealth quintile, 25 per cent of children are stunted and 20 per cent are underweight.
This points to widespread poor feeding practices in India, particularly during the 1,000-day
window of opportunity from conception until the child’s second birthday. NFHS-3 reports that
while breastfeeding is nearly universal, it is not done correctly. Only 25 per cent of newborns
breastfed within 1 hour of birth, less than half of infants under six months were exclusively
breastfed, and only 20 per cent of children 6-23 months of age are fed according to recommended
practices [1]156.
Nutritional status affects children’s behaviour too. Well nourished children are more alert,
attentive, and better able to benefit from physical activity and learning experiences. Poorly
nourished children may be quite and withdrawn, or hyperactive and disruptive during class
activities. Children who are overweight also face many social, emotional, and physical problems.
They are often slow and less able to participate in physical activity. They may also suffer ridicule,
emotional stress, and be excluded from their peer groups. Children’s resistance to infection and
illness is also directly influenced by their nutritional status. Children who are well nourished are
less likely to become ill; they also recover more quickly when they are sick. Poorly nourished
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Pawar, P. (2021). Malnutrition among Children: Some Reviews from India, Developing and Underdeveloped Countries. Advances in Social
Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 65-70.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.9943
children are more susceptible to infections and illness, while illeness increases the need for some
nutrients. Thus, poor nutrition creates a cycle of illness, poorer nutritional status, and lowered
resistance to illness [1]158.
DISCUSSION
Some reviews indicating scenario of malnutrition in India, developing and underdeveloped
countries:
Mohammad Mohseni, AIdin Aryankhesal,and Naser Kalantri [ 2017] had conducted a systematic
review of malnutrition and its associated factors among under five year old children of Iran. Total
36 articles were selected for the purpose. The study revealed that mother’s education, fathers
education, gender, birth weight were mentioned as the most important factors resulting in
stunting. The study suggested that policies and programmes should focus on improvement of
households living conditions such as mother and child nutrition[7].
Muhammad Asim and Yasir Nawaz [2018] have conducted a study on child malnutrition in
Pakistan. They have examined the published empirical literature through different scholarly
database search engines. The most relevant and current published papers between 2000-2016
were included in this study. A total of 28 articles were reviewed and almost similar
methodologies were used in all of them. Most of the researchers highlighted that socio-economic,
demographic and lifestyle factors are responsible for malnutrition in children.
It is revealed from the study that higher intensity of child malnutrition prevails in the rural areas
of Pakistan. Early marriages, large family size, high fertility rates with a lack of birth spacing, low
income and the lack of breastfeeding were found to be major determinants of child
malnutrition[8].
Vijayashree Mathad and Shivprasad S [ 2013] have analysed various studies conducted in India.
It is revealed from their study that faulty feeding practices were common and most of the
children’s diet was not adequate for calories and proteins as per ICMR guidelines. No child was
found to be overweight or obese. It is also observed that lower socio-economic condition, higher
birth order, lower birth interval and faulty feeding habits were found to have adverse effect on
nutritional status of children.
Among micronutrient deficiencies, nearly one-third of children were detected clinically to have
anemia. Study have given some recommendations and these recommendations are, mothers
should be advised to initiate breastfeeding within one hour of delivery. Socio-economic
development among the rural masses needs to be ensured, which is the important factor to tackle
malnutrition, mainly undernutrition[9].
Bantamen G, Belaynew W and Dube J [2014] have conducted study of under five years age
children at Machakel Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia to assess associated factors of malnutrition.
An Institution based case-control study was conducted and the total sample size was 321 with
107 cases and 214 controls.
The study revealed that the use of unprotected source of drinking water increased the risk of
malnutrition three-fold. In the rural population of Ethiopia, there is a lack of access of safe