Save the Children Cambodia Seeks to Address Child Wasting
Save the Children Cambodia recently presented its report, “Informative Research Findings on the Child Wasting Issue,” which investigates malnutrition among children in Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, and Koh Kong provinces in the country. The forum aimed to gather stakeholder input to prioritize nutrition promotion and reduce child wasting.
The research, conducted from August 2023 to May 2024, was supported by Save the Children Japan and involved collaboration with various stakeholders. A recent assessment by Save the Children International revealed that while the overall prevalence of malnutrition has decreased compared to the 2021 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey, significant issues persist in Kampong Chhnang and Koh Kong, where stunting and underweight rates are notably high.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), wasting is the “most immediate and life-threatening form” of malnutrition, resulting in children becoming too thin with weakened immune systems, making them susceptible to developmental delays, disease, and death. It can also cause nutritional oedema, characterized by swollen faces, feet, and limbs. Wasting stems from factors such as maternal malnutrition, low birthweight, poor feeding practices, infections, food insecurity, lack of access to safe drinking water, and poverty. It predominantly affects children under 2 years old and can worsen due to conflicts, epidemics, and climate-related food insecurity. Despite being more common in non-crisis areas, only one in three children with severe wasting receive timely treatment and care.
The report highlights critical areas of concern, particularly in complementary feeding practices. Wasting is most prevalent among children over 12 months and infants aged 0-5 months in Kampong Cham, where the exclusive breastfeeding rate is only 48%. Additionally, poor dietary diversity was noted, with only one in eight children consuming at least five different foods and 70% not eating vegetables.
Barriers to optimal feeding practices include traditional gender norms and conflicts between income generation and caregiving responsibilities. Limited awareness of malnutrition signs and reliance on routine health check-ups also hinder timely care and treatment.
To combat child wasting, the organization recommends prioritizing early detection and treatment of acute malnutrition, promoting breastfeeding, and investing in community and primary healthcare to prevent and treat childhood illnesses. These initiatives should be designed to accommodate working parents and caregivers, reflecting shifts in Cambodia’s economy and workforce.
Chanborith Ros, head of Program Development, Quality and Impact at Save the Children Cambodia, emphasized the dual nature of the findings, showcasing both progress and ongoing challenges. The findings align with the UN Global Action Plan on Child Wasting, which focuses on improving maternal nutrition, child health, infant and young child feeding practices, and expanding access to treatment for wasted children.
Chea Samnang, Deputy Chief of the Council of Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), stressed the importance of addressing child wasting to prevent stunting and its associated risks to organ development, brain health, learning, and productivity. According to the Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey, the prevalence of child wasting has remained steady at 10% since 2014, indicating an urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce this rate.
Source: Khmer Times/UNICEF
