A M E R I C A N U N I V E R S I T Y O F A R M E N I A - CHSR

stress, loss of sense of control, and low self-esteem” [6]. In this situation, children are especially
vulnerable.
Though stunting in preschool children is falling globally and is expected to continue to fall,
reaching 29% in 2005 compared with 47% in 1980 [7], malnutrition is the most important risk
factor of mortality and morbidity for a number of childhood illnesses [2]. The main causes of
malnutrition are inadequate access to food, inadequate care of children and women, and
inadequate access to basic health services, sometimes combined with an unhealthy environment
[8]. Such diseases like acute-respiratory diseases, food allergy, functional stomach and gut-
intestinal disorders are linked to feeding practices during the first 12 months of life [9].
In developing countries, another issue, also identified as a priority, is anemia, the main cause of
which is using poor quality supplementary food, especially given before six months and in rural
areas. This increases the risk of diarrheal and other nutrition-related diseases, and instead of
growth advantage it is likely leading to a growth faltering [8,10]. However, nutrition and health
status are not determined simply by food supply. Rather, these are the outcomes of three groups
of factors: household food security, good health services (including a healthy environment), and
quality of care [2,10].
The UNICEF-Cornell Colloquium on Care and Nutrition of the Young Child in 1995
developed the same concept describing the various factors that influence the quality of care. The
framework, dedicated to care and nutrition of children, developed a conceptual model of
nutrition status of young children. It highly emphasized the essence of access to health services,
both preventive and curative procedures as well as good care, defined as a provision in the
household and the community of time, attention and support to meet the physical, mental and
social needs [8].
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