The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth

Bull World Health Organ. 1993;71(6):703-12.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Africa / epidemiology
  • Asia / epidemiology
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child Nutrition Disorders / prevention & control
  • Child Welfare*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Developing Countries*
  • Economics
  • Global Health*
  • Growth
  • Humans
  • Latin America / epidemiology
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Pacific Islands / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Prevalence
  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition / epidemiology*
  • Protein-Energy Malnutrition / prevention & control
  • World Health Organization