Government Report Reveals Persistent Child Malnutrition Challenges in Nepal

Kathmandu. A government report indicates that the nutritional and health status of children in Nepal remains challenging.

According to the Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey 2081/82, released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Monday, 31.5 percent of children under five years old are stunted (low height-for-age).

The survey, conducted based on World Health Organization standards, revealed that 24.3 percent of children suffer from underweight (low weight-for-age), and 7.6 percent are wasted (low weight-for-height).

When examining the nutritional status by province, Madhesh Province appears to be the most affected. In Madhesh Province, 33.2 percent of children are underweight, which is significantly higher than in Bagmati Province. Bagmati Province has the lowest incidence of underweight children at only 9.6 percent.

However, there are positive signs regarding infant feeding. Approximately 70 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months after birth. Sudurpashchim Province leads in this area (76.6 percent), while the breastfeeding situation in Madhesh and Karnali provinces also appears comparatively good.

Some shortcomings were noted in immunization and illness treatment. The survey found that only 80.7 percent of children aged 12 to 23 months received all the required vaccinations in their first year.

Among children under five suffering from diarrhea, only 20.6 percent were found to have received Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) along with zinc tablets. 2.7 percent of children were observed to have respiratory problems, highlighting the continued need for special attention to child health.

In the area of early childhood education and development, Nepal appears to be making improvements. 57.9 percent of children aged 36 to 59 months are participating in pre-primary early childhood education programs. Overall, Nepal's early childhood development index has reached 63.3 percent.