Nutrition
- A review of the impact of cash transfer programmes on child nutritional status
-
This paper reviews eight cash transfer programmes in Latin America and Africa and discusses the effectiveness of each in improving the nutritional status of children. It finds that cash transfers to targeted households have the potential to improve children’s diet and nutritional status. The positive impacts exceed those reported from other community-based nutrition programmes.
Previous feature: Food sovereignty and nutrition in East and Southern Africa: a synthesis of case study evidence
Malnutrition is the underlying cause of half of all deaths among children under five. It weakens the immune system and makes diseases worse. Even mild and moderate malnutrition can have severe consequences. Owing to gender biases, poor nutrition is also more prevalent in young girls and women. Poor maternal nutrition and health contribute to mothers bearing low birth weight babies, thus setting up a cycle of poor health from one generation to the next.
Micronutrient deficiencies, of vitamin A, iron and iodine, are widespread and have significant health effects. However, affordable and highly effective nutrition interventions are available to reduce malnutrition. Children under two years of age and pregnant and breastfeeding women are priority target groups.
While undernutrition remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, prevalence of obesity is also growing rapidly in all regions. This is due in large part to changes in diet and lifestyle, in particular the "nutrition transition" away from fruit, vegetables and whole grains towards greater consumption of fat, sugar and salt, accompanied by reduced levels of physical activity. Obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease - all of which are on the rise in developing countries.
Recommended reading
- The double burden of malnutrition: case studies from six developing countries
- ( Food and Nutrition Division, FAO , 2006)
- This Food and Agriculture Organization publication assesses the extent of the "double burden" of malnutrition in six developing countries – China, Egypt, India, Mexico, the Philippines and South Afric...
- Ending malnutrition by 2020: an agenda for change in the millennium
- ( United Nations University , 2000)
- Recommended reading
- During the 1990s, major international commitments were made to reduce malnutrition. There was dramatic progress in some areas, but more still needs to be done. This special supplement to the Food an...
Latest Additions
- Exposure to war increases malnutrition and stunting amongst children in Burundi
- ( T. Bundervoet;P. Verwimp;R. Akresh / Microcon , 2008)
- This Microcon research working paper examines the impact of Burundi’s civil war on children’s health status, focusing on early childhood malnutrition and stunting. The paper uses household...
- Inequalities in childhood malnutrition in developing countries
- ( E. Van de Poel;A. R. Hosseinpoor;N. Speybroeck / Bulletin of the World Health Organization : the International Journal of Public Health , 2008)
- This study, published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, reports on socioeconomic inequality in childhood malnutrition in developing countries, with the intention of providing evidence ...
