Prevalence and trends in the childhood dual burden of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries, 1990-2012.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe trends in country- and individual-level dual burden of malnutrition in children <5 years, and age-stratified (<2 years, ≥2 years) country-level trends, in thirty-six low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Design

Using repeated cross-sectional nationally representative data, we calculated the prevalence of malnutrition (stunting, wasting, overweight) at each survey wave, annualized rates of prevalence change for each country over time, and trends before and after 2000, for all children <5 years and separately for those SettingDemographic and Health Surveys from thirty-six LMIC between 1990 and 2012.

Subjects

Children <5 years.

Results

Overall malnutrition prevalence decreased in children <5 years, driven by stunting decreases. Stunting rates decreased in 78 % of countries, wasting rates decreased in 58 % of countries and overweight rates increased in 36 % of countries. Rates of change differed for children ConclusionsThe dual burden exists in children <5 years on both country and individual levels, indicating a shift is needed in policies and programmes to address both sides of malnutrition. Children <2 years should be identified as a high-risk demographic.

SUBMITTER: Tzioumis E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470367 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature