Prevalence of Inadequate Nutrition Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

poor diets, it is imperative that countries prioritize efforts to strengthen social behavior change and communications to increase awareness among parents and caregivers of the importance of complementary foods along with culturally specific guidelines on the preparation of nutritious, complementary foods. While achievement of a minimum dietary diversity may be beyond the means of some families, there are ways to increase the nutrient density of diets, such as adding critical vitamins and minerals through fortification of staple foods like wheat, maize, rice, and other cereals that constitute the main source of dietary energy in many low-income households. 8 Similarly, use of iodized salt is a low-cost way to ensure optimal intake of iodine. These data provide a bleak picture of the challenges facing millions of young children and should spur policy makers to prioritize ensuring that the youngest and most vulnerable segments of their countries' populations achieve their full potential to thrive.

Updated Title

“…The title of the Invited Commentary “Prevalence of Children Who Only Consume Breast Milk Across 92 Low- and Middle-Income Countries,” 1 published February 12, 2024, was updated to reflect the definition of “zero-food children” in the Original Investigation “Prevalence of Children Aged 6 to 23 Months Who Did Not Consume Animal Milk, Formula, or Solid or Semisolid Food During the Last 24 Hours Across Low- and Middle-Income Countries” by Karlsson et al 2 The updated title reads, “Prevalence of Inadequate Nutrition Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” 1 …”