1000 Versus 635 Days Approach for Prevention of Undernutrition in Children

Abstract

Since the pre-independence era, India is dealing with a variety of health problems that have been eliminated in developed nations. As we prepare to enter post covid era, a problem which we are dealing since ages is child promotion and child survival. India is a nuclear weapon-affiliated country now but it still has a long way to go as far as child malnutrition is concerned. It is a surprising fact to know that the prevalence of malnutrition in India is double that of sub-Saharan country.[1] It has been 45 years since the launch of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and we still have 35.8% of undernourished children in our country makes one think about the drawbacks in our current approach. [2] There are a wide variety of reasons for decreased weight inchildren under the age of 5. Interestingly inadequate food security is considered as one of the primary reasons, however,it does not justify the 20.1% of underweight children belonging to high socioeconomic status.[2] Other reasons include infections i.e. diarrhea and acute respiratory infections in children and it could be attributed to a moderate rate (approximately 62%) of immunization in the under 5 age group.[2]