The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth.
Using the WHO Global Database on Child Growth, which covers 87% of the total population of under-5-year-olds in developing countries, we describe the worldwide distribution of protein-energy malnutrition, based on nationally representative cross-sectional data gathered between 1980 and 1992 in 79 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. The findings confirm that more than a third of the world's children are affected. For all the indicators (wasting, stunting, and underweight) the most favourable situation--low or moderate prevalences--occurs in Latin America; in Asia most countries have high or very high prevalences; and in Africa a combination of both these circumstances is found. A total 80% of the children affected live in Asia--mainly in southern Asia--15% in Africa, and 5% in Latin America. Approximately, 43% of children (230 million) in developing countries are stunted. Efforts to accelerate significantly economic development will be unsuccessful until optimal child growth and development are ensured for the majority.
de Onís
M
M
Scientist, Nutrition unit, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Monteiro
C
C
Akré
J
J
Glugston
G
G
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D014943:Global Health; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014944:World Health Organization