Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation In Early Childhood
A recent UNICEF report titled ‘Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood’ examines the status, trends, inequities and drivers of child food poverty in early childhood.
Key Findings of the Report:
- Approximately 181 million children under the age of 5 years are living in severe child food poverty globally, which accounts for one in four children in this age group.
- According to UNICEF global databases, 2023,in India, 40% of children are living in severe child food poverty.
- Progress in addressing severe child food poverty is slow overall, but some regions and countries are demonstrating that progress is possible.
- Severe child food poverty affects children from both poor and non-poor households, indicating that household income is not the sole factor driving this issue.
- Children living in severe child food poverty lack access to nutrient-rich foods and are increasingly consuming unhealthy foods.
- The global food and nutrition crisis, as well as localised conflicts and climatic shocks, are intensifying severe child food poverty, particularly in fragile countries.
- In vulnerable communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, more than 80% of parents reported that their child had been unable to eat for an entire day because of a lack of money or other resources.
- Severe child food poverty is a significant driver of child undernutrition.
- The prevalence of severe child food poverty being three times higher in countries with a high prevalence of child stunting.
