Maternal and child undernutrition series n°2 - The Lancet

A new Lancet series on Maternal and Child Nutrition was published in June 2013. Five years after the first one, the Lancet published on line four articles reconsidering the previous series and showing the new issues at stake. Obviously, this series focuses on undernutrition (stunting, wasting and deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals) but, it also focuses on the growing problem of overweight and obesity in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This double burden of malnutrition is central in this series. This series is guided by a new framework that considers the means to optimum fetal and child growth and development, rather than the determinants of undernutrition, and shows the dietary, behavioral and health determinants of optimum nutrition, growth and development. This series examines how these determinants can be changed including nutrition-sensitive interventions (agriculture, cash transfers, early child development, schooling …). Moreover, after focusing on the 1000 days (from conception to the child second’s birthday), it is highlights the importance of adolescent and maternal nutrition for the health of the mother and for ensuring healthy fetal growth and development because fetal growth restriction is responsible for more than a quarter of all neonatal deaths. Finally, this series indicates the environment for good nutrition required notably the coherence between sectors and the importance of the private sector.The first article, Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries, is an overview of the prevalence and the consequence of nutritions conditions during the life course from girl’s adolescence through pregnancy to childhood.The second article, Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition: what can be done and what cost ?, provides a comprehensive update of interventions to address undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in women and children. It shows evidence around nutrition-specific interventions, health outcomes and costs associated with expanding reach and impact of interventions.The third one, Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: how can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition?, deals with the nutrition-sensitive interventions (notably agricultural interventions) and approaches and their impact on improved nutrition and health status.And the fourth, The politics of reducing malnutrition: building commitment and accelerating progress, details the characteristics of an enabling environment where nutrition programs can yield the desired impact.There is also a set of comments that examines current nutrition efforts and responses, along with what should be done moving forward to address the needs of women and children in the LMICs.You can find attached the executive summary of the series. To have access to the full text of the articles, you juste have to register as indicate in the links, these articles are free of charges.