This report examines the prevalence of stunting and malnutrition in Afghanistan, highlighting trends from the 2004 and 2013 National Nutrition Surveys. Despite gradual improvements, 40.9% of Afghan children under five were still stunted in 2013, with severe stunting at 20.9%. Wasting also increased slightly to 9.5%.
Maternal malnutrition remains a major issue, with 9.2% of women of reproductive age being underweight, and 40.4% suffering from anemia. The study underscores geographic and socio-economic disparities, with the poorest households disproportionately affected. Key drivers include poor dietary diversity, inadequate breastfeeding, and limited access to healthcare. The report calls for policy-driven, multi-sectoral nutrition interventions to address these challenges.
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