27Mar
A new research has challenged the widely held view that economic growth contributes to tackling undernutrition rates in children. Scientists proved GDP has no positive relation to reducing the number of child mortality.
The study published in The Lancet Global Health was carried out by a group of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and the University of Göttingen in Switzerland. They analysed data gathered during 121 demographic and health surveys conducted across 36 low- and middle-income countries between 1990 ad 2011, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
They measured the extent to which changes in GDP per capita affected stunting, being underweight, and wasting. The analysis was adjusted for the purchasing power and rates of inflation, differences in public health between countries, and the socioeconomic status and education of the participants.
Having compared the impact of GDP growth on indicators of child malnutrition, the researchers found that for a 5% increase in per-head GDP, there were very small associated reductions in the odds of being stunted (0.4%), underweight (1.1%), or wasted (1.7%).
“Our findings suggest that the contribution of economic growth to the reduction of undernutrition in children in developing countries is very small, if it exists at all,” said senior author Prof. S.V. Subramanian, from the Harvard School of Public Health.
The study authors underline the need for nutrition-related interventions, and improving living conditions, such as public health infrastructure and sanitation.
The study published in The Lancet Global Health was carried out by a group of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and the University of Göttingen in Switzerland. They analysed data gathered during 121 demographic and health surveys conducted across 36 low- and middle-income countries between 1990 ad 2011, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
They measured the extent to which changes in GDP per capita affected stunting, being underweight, and wasting. The analysis was adjusted for the purchasing power and rates of inflation, differences in public health between countries, and the socioeconomic status and education of the participants.
Having compared the impact of GDP growth on indicators of child malnutrition, the researchers found that for a 5% increase in per-head GDP, there were very small associated reductions in the odds of being stunted (0.4%), underweight (1.1%), or wasted (1.7%).
“Our findings suggest that the contribution of economic growth to the reduction of undernutrition in children in developing countries is very small, if it exists at all,” said senior author Prof. S.V. Subramanian, from the Harvard School of Public Health.
The study authors underline the need for nutrition-related interventions, and improving living conditions, such as public health infrastructure and sanitation.
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