Publication: Situational Analysis Improving Economic Outcomes by Expanding Nutrition Programming in Tajikistan
Date
2012-02-08
ISSN
Published
2012-02-08
Author(s)
World Bank
UNICEF
Abstract
Undernutrition in Tajikistan remains an
important public health challenge, albeit a hidden problem.
Stunting, iodine deficiency, and maternal and child anemia
represent the largest burden of undernutrition in
Tajikistan. In 2009, around 29 percent of children in all
regions of the country were stunted. Iodine deficiency was
observed in 53 percent of children and in 58.6 percent of
women. The national prevalence of anemia in children was
28.8 percent; however, rates were as high as 39.8 percent in
Ghorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and in 32 percent
directly ruled districts (DRD). The prevalence of anemia
among mothers was 24.2 percent. The long-term effects of
these conditions negatively affect the health of adults
throughout their life, as well as their potential
productivity in the work force and possible economic
contribution to the nation. The highest priority
interventions will improve infant and young child feeding.
Strengthening and scaling up breastfeeding promotion will
save lives and help to reduce stunting as would
complementary feeding for babies six months and older.
Promoting exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six
months is the most efficacious intervention to save lives,
averting nearly 20 percent of deaths in children under-five.
Effective programs need to be designed to make more women
aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and sound nutrition.
A comprehensive, multi-sector approach is needed to ensure
success of these interventions. This report also makes
several other recommendations including: supplementing
pregnant women with either iron folic acid or multiple
micronutrients, maintain twice-annually vitamin A
supplementation, implementing a deworming program, support
for flour fortification, scale up and maintain zinc for the
management of diarrhea, and address the underlying and basic
causes of undernutrition through other sectors.
Citation
“World Bank; UNICEF. 2012. Situational Analysis Improving Economic Outcomes by Expanding Nutrition Programming in Tajikistan. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/ab3c7163-a2d2-56d1-af92-dd6583c7581b License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”