Malnutrition in infants and young children in Latin America and the Caribbean: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

Abstract

[Presentation]. This comprehensive report on the growth of children over the last 20 years in 13 Latin America and Caribbean countries provides a useful tool in the fight against malnutrition. Primary data analysis of nationally representative surveys provides a thorough assessment of the prevalence of malnutrition, age-specific patterns of poor growth, and variations in poor growth within and among countries and among indigenous children. Furthermore, it analyzes trends in malnutrition from the perspective of equity and assesses whether countries are “on track” to meet MDG 1. Lastly, it provides guidance for programs and policies to reduce malnutrition. Maternal and child undernutrition is the largest single contributor to child mortality and contributes more than one-third of child deaths and more than 10% of the global disease burden. It is my hope that this document will help to orient Member States, development agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the donor community on how best to achieve the MDGs related to child mortality and malnutrition.