Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition - Unicef

The relationship between stunting and wealth varies
signifi cantly across countries. In India and Nigeria,
children in the richest households are at a distinct advantage
compared to children in other households. This
contrasts with Ethiopia, where stunting is widespread
– even among children living in the wealthiest households,
the prevalence of stunting is high, at 40 per cent – and in
Egypt, where stunting prevalence is remarkably similar
in all wealth quintiles.
Children in rural areas in the developing world are almost
twice as likely to be underweight as children in urban areas.
Gender and social norms
An analysis of nutrition indicators at the global level reveals
negligible differences between boys and girls under 5 years
old. Similarly, programme coverage and practice data that
are disaggregated by sex reveal no signifi cant differences
on the basis of gender. But further disaggregation of data
from some countries indicates there might be differences in
the feeding and care of girls compared to boys, presumably
stemming from power relations and social norms that
perpetuate discriminatory attitudes and practices. Data in
some countries point to the possible effects, such as
Bangladeshi boys being signifi cantly taller relative to their
age than girls. 36 In sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand,
boys are more likely to be stunted than girls. 37
Underweight prevalence, by
gender and area of residence
Percentage of children under 5 years old in developing
countries who are moderately or severely underweight,
by gender and area of residence
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
23
Male Female Urban Rural
Note: Estimates are calculated according to the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Source: MICS, DHS and other national surveys, 2003–2008.
36 <strong>Tracking</strong> <strong>Progress</strong> on Child and Maternal Nutrition
25
16
Gender Residence
29
Maternal education
Signifi cant disparity in nutritional status also exists in terms
of mothers’ education and literacy. A number of studies
and analyses have found a signifi cant association between
low maternal literacy and poor nutrition status of young
children. An analysis of survey data from 17 developing
countries, for example, confi rms a positive association
between maternal education and nutritional status in
children 3–23 months old, although a large part of these
associations is the result of education’s strong link to
household economics. 38 A study in Pakistan revealed that
the majority of infants with signs of undernutrition had
mothers with virtually no schooling. The study also observed
that the introduction of complementary foods for infants
at an appropriate age (6 months) improved when mothers
were educated. 39
Women’s social status
In many developing countries, the low status of women
is considered to be one of the primary determinants of
undernutrition across the life cycle. Women’s low status
can result in their own health outcomes being compromised,
which in turn can lead to lower infant birthweight and may
affect the quality of infant care and nutrition. A study in
India showed that women with higher autonomy (indicated
by access to money and freedom to choose to go to the
market) were signifi cantly less likely to have a stunted child
when compared with their peers who had less autonomy. 40