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Undernutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Assessment of the Evidence

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  • Peter Svedberg

Abstract

The predominant perception is that the world's food problems are now concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa. Declining food production and recurrent famine in many African countries are the focal points of much recent work on food problems. This paper assesses the evidence on the prevalence of undernutrition on a more permanent basis. The overall conclusion is that there is no firm evidence corroborating the notion that chronic and severe undernutrition is widespread in most parts of Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Svedberg, 1987. "Undernutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Critical Assessment of the Evidence," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-1987-015, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-1987-015
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/WP15.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Teklu, Tesfaye & von Braun, Joachim & Zaki, Elsayed & Ali, Ahmed, 1991. "Drought and famine relationships in Sudan: policy implications," Research reports 88, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Peter Svedberg, 1988. "A Model of Nutrition, Health and Economic Productivity," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-1988-046, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Pavitra Paul & Bhanu Arra & Mihran Hakobyan & Marine G Hovhannisyan & Jussi Kauhanen, 2021. "The determinants of under-5 age children malnutrition and the differences in the distribution of stunting–A study from Armenia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Herrmann, Roland, 1988. "Ernährungssicherung im südlichen Afrika: Der Einfluß der Südafrikanischen Zollunion," Kiel Working Papers 329, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

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