Child Mortality: Progress and Challenges in Addressing Malnutrition (GS Paper 2, Health)
Introduction
- In 2021, India faced a sobering reality: 0.7 million children under the age of five died.
- Of these tragic losses, 0.5 million were attributed to child and maternal malnutrition, underscoring a critical issue in public health.
- This alarming statistic reveals that over 70% of these deaths were linked to nutritional deficiencies, highlighting a significant challenge in the fight against child mortality.
Global Context
- On a global scale, child mortality rates present a somewhat different picture.
- In 2021, the world saw 4.7 million deaths among children under five, with 2.4 million of these attributed to child and maternal malnutrition.
- This translates to around 50% of child deaths being linked to nutritional deficiencies, a figure notably lower than India’s rate.
- This global perspective reveals a significant gap in malnutrition-related child mortality between high-income and low-income regions.
Understanding Nutritional Risks
- Malnutrition does not directly cause death; rather, it exacerbates or triggers conditions that lead to premature death.
- In India, the most significant nutritional risk factor is low birth weight, often a result of maternal malnutrition or infectious diseases during pregnancy.
- Children born with low birth weight are more vulnerable to infections and diseases, making them more susceptible to conditions like 'wasting' (being underweight for height) and 'stunting' (being too short for age).
Economic Disparities and Malnutrition
- The impact of malnutrition is starkly divided along economic lines.
- In countries with higher GDP per capita, such as those in the rich segment of the economy, malnutrition death rates are 20 to 50 times lower compared to the poorest countries.
- Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are the regions most affected by malnutrition-related deaths, as highlighted by data in Chart 2, which plots malnutrition deaths against GDP per person.
Progress Over Time
- Despite these challenges, there has been significant progress in reducing malnutrition-related deaths.
- Globally, the number of child deaths linked to malnutrition dropped from 6.6 million in 1990 to around 2.4 million in 2021—a remarkable 63% decrease.
- In India, the decline has been even more pronounced, with deaths falling from 2.4 million to 0.5 million, representing an 80% reduction.
- This progress is attributable to improvements in both nutrition and healthcare.
- Advances in addressing infectious diseases have played a crucial role in this decline.
- Enhanced access to clean water, improved sanitation, effective handwashing practices, and better treatments for diseases like malaria and diarrheal infections have all contributed to lower death rates.
- Additionally, vaccination programs against tuberculosis and rotavirus, along with better maternal and child healthcare, have further reduced mortality rates.
The Path Forward
- While significant strides have been made, there remains a crucial need to continue addressing both the direct and indirect causes of child malnutrition.
- Improving maternal and child nutrition, ensuring access to diverse and adequate food sources, and enhancing healthcare infrastructure are essential steps toward reducing malnutrition-related deaths.
- Efforts to tackle the diseases that exacerbate malnutrition are equally important. Continued support for clean water initiatives, sanitation improvements, and comprehensive vaccination programs will help mitigate the health risks associated with malnutrition.
Conclusion
- The fight against child mortality and malnutrition is a complex, multifaceted challenge that requires sustained effort and collaboration.
- The progress made over recent decades is commendable, but ongoing efforts are necessary to ensure that fewer children suffer and die from preventable causes.
- By addressing both nutritional deficiencies and the diseases that exacerbate them, we can continue to improve the health outcomes for children around the world and move closer to a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
