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Under-5 Deaths Linked to Growth Failure Top 1 Million Worldwide
4 Dec
Summary
- Over one million children under five died globally in 2023 due to growth failure.
- India reported over 100,000 such child deaths, with Nigeria having the highest toll.
- Child growth failure increases risks for infections, malaria, and other severe diseases.
Globally, approximately one million children under the age of five succumbed in 2023 due to factors affecting growth, such as being underweight, stunted, or wasted. India alone registered over 100,000 such fatalities. Nigeria reported the highest number of under-five deaths linked to 'child growth failure,' with the Democratic Republic of Congo also experiencing a significant toll.
These growth failures substantially elevate the risk of death and disability from critical illnesses, including lower respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, malaria, and measles. While global deaths from these causes have decreased significantly since 2000, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia continue to bear the brunt of these adverse health outcomes.
The drivers of child growth failure are multifaceted, stemming from feeding issues, food insecurity, climate change, lack of sanitation, and conflict, making a singular solution elusive. Interventions, especially in the crucial early months of life, are vital to combat this persistent global health challenge.
