A review of the prevalence and factors responsible for mal-nutrition in Pakistan

Problems occupying special attention identified by the World Health Organization also include Childhood malnutrition (Beagle holeet al., 1993). Development goals are also programmedby the United Nations to halve the problem of under-nutrition(Aldermanet al., 2005). Despite of the involvement of international organizations still under-nutrition has a main contribution to the high mortality rate of the children in the most part of the world (Caulfieldet al., 2004). Poverty plays a main part in the high prevalence of childhood under nutrition. The child is said to be under-weight when its weight is lower than the weight of the reference range for that age. The weight for height deficiency is known as wasting, while height for age deficiency as stunting. Wasting may be due to acute food shortage while prolonged food deprivation can cause stunting (Cosminskyet al., 1993; de Oniset al., 2000; Fernandezet al., 2002; and Zere & McIntyre, 2003). The factors responsible for the predisposition of children to mal-nutrition vary and ranges from political instability to the economical status of the area (de Oniset al., 2000). Therefore protocols developed for the preventive measures of mal-nutrition should be multifaceted.