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Child Malnutrition - Assignment

   

Added on  2020-04-21

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Running head: CHILD MALNUTRITIONChild MalnutritionName of the StudentName of the UniversityAuthor Note

1CHILD MALNUTRITIONMalnutrition is its different form is regarded as one of the most prominent globalproblem in today’s scenario. It is estimated that more than 35% of death of the children whoare less than 5 years old occurs as a result of malnutrition (1). The growth of a child isrecognized internationally as an important determinant of public health. It is used formonitoring nutritional status and health parameter of the population. Children who are thevictims of the growth retardationarising out of malnutrition mainly suffer from recurrentbacterial infections, which coincide with their poor diet plan. As a result they suffer frominfectious disease like pneumonia, malaria and meningitis. Malnutrition is thus a globalproblem because it increases the outbreak of the infectious disease along with child mortalityrates. Child malnutrition is also a driving force behind delayed mental development amongthe children, reduced intellectual capacity and below average school performance (2). According to the reports published by the WHO, at least 7.6 million children who areunder 5-year of age, died in the year 2010 (3). Of these, 7.6 million, 4.879 million died out ofinfectious disease like pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea. 3.072 million death occurredduring the neonatal stage arising out of the preterm birth complications, neonatal sepsis andmeningitis. The condition is more pronounced in countries like India, Pakistan, China,Nigeria and Republican of Congo. Apparently it seems that the death is arising out of theinfectious disease however, the actual underlying reason behind this is, children are sufferingfrom malnutrition which makes their immune system weak and less effective to combatagainst bacterial attack. Thus showing that the affect of malnutrition is affecting the health ofthe childrenand thereby increasing the rate of mortality rate (3). Malnutrition or undernutrition decreases the survival, development and growth rate among the children.

2CHILD MALNUTRITIONFigure: Global Causes behind Childhood DeathsSource: 3The condition like childhood malnutrition and maternal under nutrition are linked andincludes a wide array of consequences like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) that resultsin low birth weight (LBW), stunned growth or chronic restriction in growth. The malnutritionresulting from minerals and vitamins deficiencies in diet causes loss of weight and height.Many of the diseased conditions are associated with concomitant micronutrient deficiencies.Themicronutrients include Vitamin A, zinc, and iron and iodine deficiency. Apart frommicronutrient deficiencies, undernutrition is also caused as a result of suboptimalbreastfeeding. The condition is more significant during the first few years after the birth andthus further highlighting the need of proper nutrition during pregnancy and the association ofmaternal malnutrition with the childhood malnutrition. Conditions like stunned growth during

3CHILD MALNUTRITIONearly childhood, poor fatal growth during third trimester of pregnancy and severe wasteningare associated with the consequences of childhood malnutrition. At least 178 million childrenwho are under 5 years of age suffer from stunned growth and the majority of these childrenreside in South-Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, 55 million children who aresuffering from malnutrition are at a high risk of premature death. Children who are bornmalnourished as a result of IUGR are found incapable of completing their academic careerwith creditable records along with longer stay at schools. They also earn less after theattainment of the adulthood. They also have poor cognitive development and extremely pooreconomic potential. This legacy of lower income rate, poor health backup and poor access ofadequate nutrition continues to affect the health and the mental stature of their upcominggeneration and thus establishing a repetitive cycle of malnourishment (4).Malnutrition prevails in different countries of the world. Several factors areresponsible for the promotion of malnutrition. The dominant environmental factors includeagriculture, soil erosion, drought and flood. Apart from this, there are also other contributingfactors behind malnutrition like cultural barrier, poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy and othersocio-economic problems.Domestic violence or more precisely, physical violence againstwomen procured by their life partner is a serious public health concern and also regarded asthe potential cause behind child malnutrition. Women from any nationality can becomevictims of the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) regardless of their education degree, income,ethnicity and age (5). According to the reports published by the World Health Organization(WHO), at least 15 to 71% of the women population become victims of life-time sexual andphysical violence. The principal negative consequence of IPV includes mortality andmorbidity among women who are in their potent reproductive age.It also gives rise togastrointestinal problems, gynaecological problems, post-traumatic stress and suicidalactivity. These negative consequences of IPV upon women are extended and in turn affect the

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