title: Persistent Inequalities in Child Undernutrition in Cambodia from 2000 until Today.
abstract: The study assessed the trends of nutritional status of children under age five in Cambodia over four DHS surveys from 2000 to 2014 and the contribution of socioeconomic and demographic factors to its changes. Undernutrition was a public health problem in all surveys. Despite consistent improvement over the years, stunting still affected 32.5% of children in 2014. Wasting prevalence did not improve since 2005 and affected 9.6% of children under five in 2014. Low wealth and mother education; and rural residence contributed to undernutrition. In 2014; wealth status was the main socioeconomic factor associated with undernutrition and the nutritional status of children was strongly related to that of their mothers. Anemia prevalence was high and after a decrease between 2000 and 2005 remained at 45%. The prevalence of overweight was less than 10% and did not change over the years despite an increasing trend in the richest households of urban areas. Persistent inequalities in child undernutrition call for action, giving priority to the most vulnerable households to ensure availability and access to nutrient-rich foods for women and children through nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programs. The recent increase of overweight in the richest populations must also be considered in Cambodian health policies.
authors.affiliation: JRU NUTRIPASS IRD-SupAgro-UM, 911 av Agropolis, Montpellier 34000, France. valerie.greffeuille@ird.fr.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Greffeuille
authors.affiliation: National Nutrition Program, Maternal and Child Health Center, No. 31A, Rue de France (St. 47), Phnom Penh 12202, Cambodia. sophonprak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Prak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sophonneary
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Section, No. 11 Street 75, Phnom Penh 12202, Cambodia. alaillou@unicef.org.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laillou
authors.affiliation: JRU NUTRIPASS IRD-SupAgro-UM, 911 av Agropolis, Montpellier 34000, France. gauthier.ludo@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Section, No. 11 Street 75, Phnom Penh 12202, Cambodia. rhong@unicef.org.
authors.forename: Rathmony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Inner City Found International, 530 Gaither Road, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. rathavuth.hong@icfi.com.
authors.forename: Rathavuth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Section, No. 11 Street 75, Phnom Penh 12202, Cambodia. epoirot@unicef.org.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poirot
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Copenhagen University, Rolighedsvej 26, Frederiksberg 1958, Denmark. madijkhuizen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marjoleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dijkhuizen
authors.affiliation: JRU NUTRIPASS IRD-SupAgro-UM, 911 av Agropolis, Montpellier 34000, France. franck.wieringa@ird.fr.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wieringa
authors.affiliation: JRU NUTRIPASS IRD-SupAgro-UM, 911 av Agropolis, Montpellier 34000, France. jacques.berger@ird.fr.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cambodia; Southeast Asia; anemia; children; inequity; stunting; wasting