Determinants of Childhood Malnutrition and Consequences in Developing Countries

Abstract

Adequate nutrition is essential in early childhood to ensure normal growth, neurological and cognitive development, and healthy life. However, in many parts of developing countries this situation is not met as a result of poverty, lack of nutrition knowledge, poor childfeeding practices, lack of care by caregivers, and infection. Hence, there is increased malnutrition, which has resulted in high morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. In view of this nutritional problem, there is a need for both national and international organizations to embark upon nutrition and women empowerment programmes in order to alleviate nutritional problems in developing counties and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly those related to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1) and child survival (MDG 4). 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.