NIPN – National Information Platforms for Nutrition

National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) is an initiative of the European Commission aimed at providing support to countries in strengthening their nutrition information systems as well as improving data analysis to inform policy and strategic decisions in addressing malnutrition and its consequences.

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Lao PDR - Nutrition at a glance

33%

Children are stunted

1 in 3 children in Lao PDR are too short for their age

Stunted children do not grow to their fullest potential

29.4%

Dietary diversity

Only 1 in 2 children under 2 years consume foods rich in essential nutrients for their growth and development

2.6%

of GDP is lost as a result of malnutrition annually

Economic losses associated with malnutrition are estimated at USD 481.66 million annually

44.1%

Prevalence of anaemia among children under 5 years

Maternal anemia has a significant effect on nutritional status of young children leading to stunting and underweight

44.9%

Exclusive breastfeeding for children < 6 months

Breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life

23.9%

Household practicting opened defecation

Open defecation increase in waterborne diseases, diarrhea and other problems associated with ingesting

38.5%

Vitamin A Supplementation Coverage for children

This essential vitamin improves a child’s chance of survival by 12 to 24 per cent in some parts of the world

25.4%

Iron/folate supplementation among pregnant women

Iron increases the blood production required for mother and baby's health

Why is it important to invest in nutrition ?

Malnutrition accounts for approximately half of all under 5 mortality globally
Investments in nutrition improves human and economic capital by ensuring that children grow to their fullest growth potential; will be productive in adult life and will be able to contribute to the country's development.

What causes malnutrition and how to improve it ?

Malnutrition is caused by a range of complex and inter-related factors. The interplay of these factors at the individual level results in infection and inadequate dietary intake (immediate causes). These are influenced by household food access, health seeking behaviours and infant and young child feeding practices (underlying causes).

In Lao PDR, almost all children who are too short for their age (stunted) suffer from multiple and overlapping deprivations such as inadequate housing and sanitation, lack access to health, nutrition and education.

About 60,000 children under 5 years are at risk of death due to acute malnutrition annually from inadequate dietary intake and childhood illness. Additionally, 1 out of 2 children are anaemic due to poor nutrition and helminthes infections.

A holistic and multi-sectoral approach is required in addressing the complex mix of determinants of malnutrition. Investments in interventions which directly impact nutrition outcomes with complimentary interventions that indirectly relate to nutrition are required. Effective multi-sectoral coordination for synergy in programme design and implementaion are required. Strengthening the capacity of individual sectors to implement nutrition related interventions through human resource allocation for nutrition; increased public sector financing for nutrition and monitoring of results are essential.

Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years (LSIS II 2017)

Factors associated with malnutrition:

Poor nutrition and lack
of access to diverse foods

Poor hygiene and
Sanitation practices

Inadequate healthcare
for children and their mothers.

Inadequate psychosocial
stimulation and/or parent-infant bonding.
The lifetime costs of stunting to children :

Stunting makes children more
susceptible to disease and infections

Stunting can reduce IQ
by as much as eleven percent of each points

Children who are stunted earn 22 %
less as compared to nonstunted children in their adulthood

Stunting also has long term negative
consequence on health including future generations