Child malnutrition in China--present status and changing trend

Halving the malnutrition of under five of years has been set as one of the goals to be achieved by the year of 2000 by Chinese government. So it is important to know the present status of child malnutrition and its trend of changing, in order to predict the possible outcome of the achievement of the goal. According to the Child Survey carried out by the State Statistic Bureau (SSB) in 26 provinces and autonomous regions and 3 municipalities in 1992, the prevalence of malnutrition of under five was: moderate and severe underweight, stunting and wasting were 17.9%, 34.7% and 4.7% respectively. But there are significant differences among urban and rural children and between different provinces. The highest prevalence rate usually occurred in the second year of life of the children, and this may be the result of inadequate weaning food provided to the children. As compared with the data collected in 1987 by SSB in 9 provinces and autonomous regions, an impressive improvement in underweight has occurred within these 5 years. The average declined prevalence was 20.5%. It is specially true for urban children. To stunting, there was also improvement for urban children but not in the rural, resulting and over all increasing of prevalence by 5.9%. To wasting, the prevalence for urban children was low and remained at the same level while there was some what increase in the rural. So, according to these results, with constant economic development and more attempt made in areas and groups at risk, the goal to decrease malnutrition in half in terms of underweight could be reached by the year of 2000.