Malnutrition is a multi-sectoral issue that goes beyond food security:
For example, globally there are clearly established linkages between child stunting and poor sanitation, a finding which has also been demonstrated in Indonesia.
In tackling child undernutrition, there has been a global shift from measuring and tracking the prevalence of underweight children towards focusing on child stunting.
There is now a better understanding of the importance of nutrition during the critical 1,000-day period, which covers pregnancy and the first two years of the child’s life. Stunting, in particular, reflects chronic undernutrition during this period. Stunting can cause lasting damage, including poor health; increased risk of non-communicable diseases; poor cognition and education performance in childhood; and low adult wages and lost productivity.
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