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Updated: May 10, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Millennium development goals and child undernutrition
1Department of Pediatrics , Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and H.A.H.Centenary Hospital , New Delhi, India. akpatwari@gmail.com
Indian Pediatrics
|June 20, 2013
Summary
Child undernutrition in India is not declining fast enough to meet Millennium Development Goals. Reviewing current strategies and adopting innovative, cost-effective measures is crucial for reducing undernutrition in children under five.
Area of Science:
- Public Health and Nutrition
- International Development Goals
- Child Welfare
Background:
- Reduction of underweight children (under five) is an indicator for Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG 1) targeting poverty and hunger.
- Despite progress, Southern Asia has a high prevalence of underweight children, and India is projected to miss its 2015 target.
- Child undernutrition is multifactorial, influenced by food, healthcare access, maternal and child care quality, and hygiene.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the commitment and effectiveness of current strategies for reducing child undernutrition in India.
- To explore the potential impact of making child undernutrition a direct target (e.g., under MDG 4) rather than an indicator.
- To advocate for prioritizing nutrition on the development agenda and implementing context-specific, innovative strategies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Millennium Development Goals report (2012) and progress towards targets.
- Review of factors influencing child undernutrition beyond food intake.
- Conceptual exploration of alternative goal structures for child undernutrition.
Main Results:
- India is unlikely to meet its 2015 target for reducing underweight children below three years.
- Current strategies may be insufficient, necessitating a review of their effectiveness.
- Simple, cost-effective interventions exist for the critical period from conception to two years post-birth.
Conclusions:
- Urgent re-evaluation of commitment and strategies is needed to combat child undernutrition in India.
- Elevating nutrition's importance on the development agenda is critical.
- India should adopt innovative, fast-track nutritional strategies, drawing from international experiences and focusing on the critical early life period.
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