title: The economic consequences of malnutrition in Cambodia, more than 400 million US dollar lost annually.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cambodia is among the 28 worst countries globally with the highest rates of childhood malnutrition. The aim of the assessment was to apply published evidence associating malnutrition and a variety of functional consequences to project economic implications of this high rate of childhood malnutrition. Such information is vital to advocate for appropriate programs and action plan to reduce malnutrition (from severe stunting to micronutrient deficiencies).
  
  
  METHODS
  This exercise used a "consequence model" to apply these "coefficients of loss" established in the global scientific literature to Cambodia health, demographic and economic data to develop a national estimation of the economic losses link to malnutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The impact of the indicators of malnutrition analysed represent a burden to the national economy of Cambodia estimated at more than $400 million annually -2.5% of GDP. Micronutrient deficiencies suggest deficits in the quality of the diet - representing a national burden of more than $200 million annually while breastfeeding behaviours account for 6% of the burden. 57% of the losses emerge from indicators measured in children, while 43% of losses are from indicators independent of childhood measurements - indicators of maternal behaviour along with maternal and adult nutrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the low cost of interventions and the high baseline losses, investment in nutrition programs in Cambodia is likely to offer high returns and attractive benefit cost ratios. Since nearly half the losses are determined prior to the birth of the child, this has implications for targeting and timing of programs.
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), No.11, Street 75, Sangkat Sraschark, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. alaillou@unicef.org.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bagriansky
authors.forename: Ngy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Champa
authors.forename: Kimchoeun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laillou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States