Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The relationship between child anthropometry and mortality in developing countries: implications for policy, programs

D L Pelletier1

  • 1Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.

The Journal of Nutrition
|October 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Child mortality is significantly linked to malnutrition, with 20-75% of deaths attributable to anthropometric deficits. Even mild-to-moderate malnutrition elevates mortality risk, underscoring the need for integrated health and nutrition interventions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ten-year changes in the obesity, abdominal adiposity, and serum lipoprotein cholesterol measures of Western Samoan men.

Journal of clinical epidemiology·1995
Same author

The food-first bias and nutrition policy: lessons from Ethiopia.

Food policy·1995
Same author

The effects of malnutrition on child mortality in developing countries.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization·1995
Same author

The potentiating effects of malnutrition on child mortality: epidemiologic evidence and policy implications.

Nutrition reviews·1994
Same author

Child anthropometry and mortality in Malawi: testing for effect modification by age and length of follow-up and confounding by socioeconomic factors.

The Journal of nutrition·1994
Same author

A methodology for estimating the contribution of malnutrition to child mortality in developing countries.

The Journal of nutrition·1994

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Child mortality remains a critical global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
  • Current strategies often focus on disease-specific interventions, potentially overlooking the synergistic relationship between malnutrition and disease.
  • Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) was historically recognized as a major contributor to child mortality in specific regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the contribution of malnutrition to child mortality across Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries.
  • To differentiate the impact of severe malnutrition versus mild-to-moderate malnutrition on child mortality.
  • To inform policy, programs, and research by examining the relationship between anthropometric indicators and mortality.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of 28 community-based, prospective studies.
  • Analysis of data from 12 Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries.
  • Examination of anthropometric indicators as measures of nutritional status.

Main Results:

  • A consistent inverse relationship was observed between anthropometric indicators of nutritional status and child mortality risk.
  • Elevated mortality risk was found even in cases of mild-to-moderate malnutrition, contradicting some previous findings.
  • Estimates suggest 20-75% of child deaths are statistically attributable to anthropometric deficits, with 25-50% being a common range.

Conclusions:

  • Malnutrition, including mild-to-moderate forms, is a significant, quantifiable contributor to child mortality.
  • Integrated health and nutrition interventions are likely more optimal than disease-specific approaches alone.
  • Further research and policy focus on addressing malnutrition are crucial for reducing child mortality globally.