Shocking statistics and facts on undernutrition and maternal nutrition in Uganda

By Esther Nakkazi

I am attending a media training workshop on nutrition sponsored by the USAID funded Production for Improved Nutrition project -Reco Industries Limited. These are the shocking statistics and facts on undernutrition and maternal nutrition in Uganda.
Find the report for this workshop on the Health Journalists Network in Uganda website http://hejnu.ug/conferences/editors-and-reporters-training-workshop-nutrition

• Malnutrition occurs even within the wealthy households
• 54% (one in two) Uganda’s adult population was stunted in childhood
• 12% of women in reproductive age are too thin (BMI <18.5 kg/m2)
• 23 % women of reproductive age have anaemia (<12.0g/dl)
• Three in ten pregnant women have anaemia
• 438 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
• Western and Southwestern have highest number of stunted children; 9-24 months most affected by stunting
• Uganda has the highest number of stunted children in the East African region
• Malnutrition and stunting is transferred from generation to generation if no intervention is done
• At least 98% Ugandan households use iodised salt
• The commonest micronutrient deficiencies in Uganda are ; Iron, Vitamin A and Zinc deficiency as well as Iodine deficiency disorders

Therapeutic foods given to severely malnourished children-distributed by RECO Industries