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Epidemiologic evidence for a potentiating effect of malnutrition on child mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Pelletier, D.L.
  • Frongillo Jr., E.A.
  • Habicht, J.-P.

Abstract

Objectives. Despite broad agreement that severe malnutrition contributes to child mortality in developing countries and that malnutrition has a physiologically synergistic relationship with morbidity, evidence of an epidemiologic synergism has been lacking. Also, the literature provides conflicting evidence concerning the existence of elevated mortality among children with mild to moderate malnutrition. A review of published population-based studies of anthropometry-mortality relationships was undertaken to clarify these relationships. Methods. Six studies with the relevant data were reanalyzed to test for synergism and elevated mortality in mild to moderate malnutrition. Results. The results demonstrate that mortality increases exponentially with declining weight for age. This effect is consistent across studies and there is no apparent threshold effect on mortality. The primary difference across studies is in baseline levels of mortality, which determine the quantitative impact of malnutrition on mortality in a population. Conclusions. These results indicate that mild to moderate malnutrition is associated with elevated mortality and that there is an epidemiologic synergism between malnutrition and morbidity. This previously undemonstrated finding has significant implications for child survival policies and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Pelletier, D.L. & Frongillo Jr., E.A. & Habicht, J.-P., 1993. "Epidemiologic evidence for a potentiating effect of malnutrition on child mortality," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 83(8), pages 1130-1133.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1993:83:8:1130-1133_0
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    Cited by:

    1. Utkarsh Shah, 2011. "Impact Assessment of Nutritional Supplement Program in Urban Settings: A study of under nutrition in Slum Community of Mumbai," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 1(1), pages 24-35.
    2. Stephan Klasen, 2008. "Poverty, undernutrition, and child mortality: Some inter-regional puzzles and their implicationsfor research and policy," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 6(1), pages 89-115, March.
    3. Stifel, David C. & Averett, Susan L., 2009. "Childhood overweight in the United States: A quantile regression approach," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 387-397, December.
    4. Behrman, Jere R. & Skoufias, Emmanuel, 2004. "Correlates and determinants of child anthropometrics in Latin America: background and overview of the symposium," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 335-351, December.
    5. Emmanuel Grellety & Susan Shepherd & Thomas Roederer & Mahamane L Manzo & Stéphane Doyon & Eric-Alain Ategbo & Rebecca F Grais, 2012. "Effect of Mass Supplementation with Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food during an Anticipated Nutritional Emergency," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-8, September.
    6. repec:pra:mprapa:59643 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Guilkey, David K. & Riphahn, Regina T., 1998. "The determinants of child mortality in the Philippines: estimation of a structural model," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 281-305, August.
    8. J. R. Jith & Rajshree Bedamatta, 2021. "Child Undernutrition in the States of India: An Analysis Based on Change in Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure from 2006 to 2016," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 26(1), pages 104-126, June.
    9. World Bank, 2007. "Zambia : Poverty and Vulnerabiltiy Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 7863, The World Bank Group.
    10. Emmanuel Skoufias & Vincenzo Di Maro & Teresa González‐Cossío & Sonia Rodríguez Ramírez, 2009. "Nutrient consumption and household income in rural Mexico," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 40(6), pages 657-675, November.
    11. Chiara Altare & Tefera Darge Delbiso & Debarati Guha-Sapir, 2016. "Child Wasting in Emergency Pockets: A Meta-Analysis of Small-Scale Surveys from Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Yusuke Kamiya, 2009. "Economic analysis on the socioeconomic determinants of child malnutrition in Lao PDR," OSIPP Discussion Paper 09E007, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    13. del Ninno, Carlo & Lundberg, Mattias, 2005. "Treading water: The long-term impact of the 1998 flood on nutrition in Bangladesh," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 3(1), pages 67-96, March.
    14. Christos Bagias & Nithya Sukumar & Yonas Weldeselassie & Oyinlola Oyebode & Ponnusamy Saravanan, 2021. "Cord Blood Adipocytokines and Body Composition in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    15. Leonor Rodríguez & Elsa Cervantes & Rocío Ortiz, 2011. "Malnutrition and Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Infections in Children: A Public Health Problem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-32, April.
    16. Van de Poel, Ellen & O'Donnell, Owen & Van Doorslaer, Eddy, 2007. "Are urban children really healthier? Evidence from 47 developing countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(10), pages 1986-2003, November.
    17. Vikram, Kriti & Chindarkar, Namrata, 2020. "Bridging the gaps in cognitive achievement in India: The crucial role of the integrated child development services in early childhood," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    18. Francesco Burchi & Jessica Fanzo & Emile Frison, 2011. "The Role of Food and Nutrition System Approaches in Tackling Hidden Hunger," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, January.
    19. Sudhanshu Handa & Amber Peterman, 2016. "Is There Catch-Up Growth? Evidence from Three Continents," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 78(4), pages 470-500, August.
    20. Ellen van de Poel & Owen O'Donnell & Eddy van Doorslaer, 2007. "Are Urban Children really healthier?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 07-035/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    21. United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, 2015. "Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition: A Survival and Development Priority," Working Papers id:7419, eSocialSciences.

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