Theme: Malnutrition

plan

Introduction

Definition

Causes

Consequences

Prevention

conclusion

Teacher: Mr. BONKOUNGOU

Establishment: LMHFG

Group No. 1

Class: 1st D1

Group member

OUATTARA AÏCHA

ILOU ALASSANE

SIRIMA SOUNGALO

AOUKOULKI W. H. YACINTHE

TOURÉ OROKIA

TRAORÉ AÏCHA
Introduction

Malnutrition is a universal problem that takes many forms. She touches the
majority of the world's population at a moment or another in the life cycle,
between first months and old age. No country is saving. Whatever the
geographical area, the age group, wealth level or gender, Everybody is concerned.
It is a problem resolutely universal.Burkina Faso is also not spared from this
phenomenon, especially during its last years when the country is prey to
insecurity with its procession of internally displaced people, the majority of whom
are women and children.

So, what is malnutrition? What are the causes of malnutrition? What are the
consequences of malnutrition and how can we fight against malnutrition? The
answers to his various questions in order will be the subject of our presentation.

Definition

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition results from an unbalanced diet, whether in terms of quantity or

quality.

“According to the WHO, malnutrition is defined by deficiencies, excesses or

imbalances in a person's energy and/or nutritional intake.”

For example, an obese person may suffer from malnutrition because their diet
contains too much fat or sugar. Conversely, a person also suffering from
malnutrition may experience physiological dysfunctions linked to a diet that is too
low in calories or very little varied.

1) the different forms of malnutrition

There are several forms of malnutrition:

Undernutrition ( wasting , stunted growth, underweight);

Unsuspected hunger ( vitamin or mineral deficiencies);

Overweight or obesity: Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat in the human

body following excessive eating in relation to the food intake.

2) the countries most affected by malnutrition

Child malnutrition around the world

According to UNICEF, today, 1 million children under the age of 5 die of

malnutrition every year .

Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya,

Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad and Yemen
are the 15 most affected countries.

In 2022, 8 million children suffered from severe wasting in these countries , 3

million more than all children in the world who received treatment for this
disease in 2021.

Causes

What are the causes of malnutrition?

1) Causes linked to diet

Generally speaking, malnutrition linked to undernutrition can be caused by a

deficiency in essential foods, especially in children aged six to twenty-four months
and also after weaning.

Children's food ration must be rich especially in proteins in order to ensure the
growth and maintenance of the body.But also, their diet must be balanced in
carbohydrates and a little lipids. The absence of these nutrients in the child's diet
constitutes malnutrition which can lead to serious health problems.

Furthermore, the absence of trace elements such as iron and iodine constitutes
malnutrition.

In addition, vitamin A and vitamin B1 deficiency also causes dietary imbalance

with harmful consequences.

On the other hand, malnutrition is also overeating linked to a state of excessive

food intake. This also constitutes one of the major causes of malnutrition in the
world, especially among people with average income.

However, its causes can be classified into three main categories.

There are many reasons why a child or adult becomes malnourished. The causes
vary from one individual to another, but they can be divided into three
categories: immediate causes, underlying causes and root causes.

2) Immediate causes

The two main immediate causes are: insufficient food intake in quantity and
quality and illness. Their interaction tends to create a vicious circle.

3) The underlying causes

They include a lack of access to food within the family, inadequate maternal and
child care practices, a lack of access to health services and/or hygiene and
sanitation systems.
4) The root causes, especially political

They are linked to widespread poverty, the unequal distribution and control of
resources, political or ideological decisions or insufficient access to basic social
services (social protection, health, education, etc.).

Consequences

1) The direct consequences

The immediate consequences linked to malnutrition are multiple and diverse,

depending on the nutritional deficiency.

Thus, the absence of protein in the diet causes kwashiorkor.Kwashiorkor

manifests itself by lack of appetite, persistent diarrhea, edema, behavioral
problems (sad and whiny children), red, stiff and brittle hair…

Also, the absence of proteins and energy foods such as carbohydrates causes
slump.Marasmus manifests itself as stunted growth and extreme thinness.

Furthermore, the lack of vitamin A causes stunted growth in children and

twilight blindness.Also, lack of iron causes serious anemia in children which can
lead to death.

Malnutrition can also be a source of cancer.According to a study by the

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), “in developing countries,
cancers of the liver, stomach and esophagus are the most common […]”.

2) The report from the World Bank and UNICEF

The 2004 report from Unicef and the World Bank gives a terrifying assessment:
iron deficiency among babies aged 6 to 24 months affects the mental
development of 40 to 60% of children in developing countries; iodine deficiency
has reduced the intellectual capacity of these countries by 10 to 15%, and causes
the birth of 18 million mentally handicapped children per year; Lack of vitamin A
causes the death of a million children every year.
3)Consequences in adults

Among adults, those most affected are often women: anemia caused by lack of
iron causes the death of 60,000 young women during pregnancy or childbirth;
lack of folic acid causes one in ten deaths from heart disease.

4)Consequences in children

Devastating and even fatal consequences

Until the age of 5, children have specific nutritional needs. If his diet is insufficient,
in quality or quantity, this will have a direct impact on his development.

The child's body weakens: fat disappears first and muscles begin to melt away.

If the deficiencies worsen, his body will consume its own tissues. His immune
system will weaken.

The risk of death then becomes extremely high. Malnourished children are up to
11 times more likely to die than children with adequate nutrition.

If a child who suffers from malnutrition is not quickly taken care of before the
age of 2, the disease will leave him with lasting consequences for the rest of his
life. He may suffer from delayed growth or development

Fight against malnutrition

1) the role of UNICEF in the fight against malnutrition

At the national level, UNICEF provides all the therapeutic food, medicines and
equipment needed to treat as many children as possible, both in emergency
settings and in areas less affected by the crisis.

UNICEF is also developing a capacity building strategy for state health workers in
the management of severe acute malnutrition and the prevention of malnutrition.

Indeed, as malnutrition is multi-sectoral, certain approaches have now been

developed:

The “WASH in Nut” approach, the aim of which is to ensure good hygiene
conditions in care structures and in the community (for example through the
rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure) , as well as disseminating
messages on good hygiene and sanitation practices.

Micronutrient supplementation, deworming of children, awareness-raising and

promotion of good practices in infant and young child feeding in areas affected by
malnutrition.

2) Fight against malnutrition in Burkina Faso

UNICEF, the Red Cross and several other international and national organizations
are fighting against malnutrition in Burkina Faso.

For example in Burkina Faso,the Nutrifaso program aims to improve the nutrition
and care of young children and women of childbearing age, with a view to
contributing to the reduction of malnutrition in eastern Burkina Faso (province of
Gnagna, Gourma, and Tapoa) and in urban areas.

This is as follows:

raise awareness and train populations in good food, hygiene and care practices,
support the local production and sale of fortified foods for children aged 6 (six)to
24(Twenty four ) months, children aged 2((Two) to 12(Twelve) and women of
childbearing age, meeting international quality standards and very inexpensive.
GRET supports 19 companies producing local infant flour, by strengthening their
distribution network via wholesalers.

Noticed: GRET IS AN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION.

3) Some suggestions

Some suitable proposals to prevent and fight against malnutrition

Therefore, to fight against malnutrition, we must:

Identify children and areas at risk of malnutrition

Diagnosing children who are malnourished

Implement an integrated nutritional care plan to prevent and treat malnutrition

Provide nutritious and culturally acceptable foods, and reduce barriers to food
intake for users

Monitor nutritional intake and changes in nutritional status of users

Providing treatment to malnourished users throughout their hospital stay

Facilitate organizational changes to implement and sustain improved nutrition

management.

Conclusion

The World Report on Malnutrition published in June 2016 is very alarming.

The nature of malnutrition is changing. The results are alarmist: the number of
children suffering from malnutrition is very high, both in developing countries and
also among the wealthiest. However, the number of overweight children is also
increasing in some countries.

The multiple consequences resulting from this malnutrition also affect individuals
and society in general.In a report published in October 2014, the International
Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), malnutrition affects around 2 billion people
worldwide. In Burkina Faso, in recent years the situation has worsened with
insecurity, leaving behind thousands of malnourished children and women. All
national and international organizations are trying to stem the phenomenon of
malnutrition but without success.