Protein energy malnutrition in Nepal

Protein energy mal nutrition is a global public health problem. In Nepal, this is a major nutritional disorder. Mainly it occurs in two forms such as kwashiorkor and marasmus mainly in children.

Sign/symptoms

Mild

Growth failure, repeated infection, anemia, lethargic

Moderate

Always crying, refuse to eat, diarrhea, thin limbs and loose folds of skin,

Severe

Muscle wasting, fat wasting, edema, mental change.

Status in Nepal

•   49 % of children below 5 years of age are affected by stunting (short for their age), which can be a sign of early chronic under-nutrition.

•   39 % of the children are underweight (low weight for age)

•   13 % of the children are wasted (thin for their age), which can be an indicator of acute under-nutrition.

 Stunting and underweight are more common in the rural areas than in the urban, but wasting are more common in the urban areas. Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting tended to increase after 6 months of age indicating that the practice of complementary feeding was not appropriate for their growth.

Nutritional status of children under five years of age in Nepal

imAGE

Source; NDHS 2006

Causes

•   Inadequate energy intake

•   Inadequate knowledge and practice of maternal feeding

•   Heavy physical workload

•   Lack of extra food intake during pregnancy and lactation

•   Inappropriate breastfeeding

•   Inadequate complementary feeding practices 

•   Insufficient health services (Growth monitoring and counseling)

•   Low birth weight.

•   Infectious diseases

•   Inadequate energy intake

Consequences

•   Low birth weight

•   Increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity

•   Reduced productivity

•   Failing to grow (underweight, stunted, and wasted)

•   Reduced learning ability

•   Reduced resistance and immunity against infection

•   Reduced productivity in the future