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Child Malnutrition Prevalent in Central/South Iraq -
PR/GVA/97/11

One out of every four Iraqi infants  is malnourished

Baghdad, May 29, 1997 -- Results from a Nutrition Status
Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health with the
collaboration of UNICEF and WFP show widespread
malnutrition in central/south Iraq.  In 1991, one year
after the Gulf war, 9.2% of children under five years in
the 15 governorates in central/south Iraq were found to
be malnourished. Today, the figure for the same area has
risen to 25%, or some 750,000 children.

The survey was conducted in 87 primary health care
centres in 15 governorates in central/south Iraq during
the three-day period of the National Polio Immunization
Days (12-14 April 1997).  When parents brought their
children to receive the polio vaccine, a sample of
15,000 children was also examined to assess their
nutritional status.

Findings from the study highlight the alarming level of
chronic malnutrition (low height for age) among children
under five which has reached an average of 27.5%. 
Chronic malnutrition has long term implications on a
child's physical and mental development.  After a child
reaches two or three years of age, chronic malnutrition
is difficult to reverse and damage on the child's
development is likely to be permanent.  This situation
is a direct result of a combination of factors including
adverse economic conditions, poor health, inappropriate
or insufficient food, and lack of proper care.

The survey also shows the following results :

*    Every governorate in central/south Iraq has a rate
     of chronic malnutrition of at least 20%;

*    The children most at risk are under two years old,
     with a high prevalence of acute malnutrition (low
     weight for height) from 6 to 23 months, due to
     inadequate feeding and infections ;

*    The level of malnutrition is similar for boys and
     girls;

*    There is little or no difference between urban and
     rural areas.

                          ***

NB        General Malnutrition    =    low weight for age
          Chronic Malnutrition    =    low height for age
          Acute Malnutrition      =    low weight for height    

                            
                            
            For further information, please contact :
                            
             Margherita Amodeo,  Communication Officer,
        Geneva Regional Office - Tel. (41 22) 909 55 11
            Patrick McCormick, Communication Officer,
       Geneva Regional Office - Tel. (41 22) 909 55 09
                             or 
        Philippe Heffinck, Representative, UNICEF Baghdad
                      Tel. (+ 964 1) 717 01 69
                             or
        Inmarsat + 873 161 13 77 or Home No. 871 161 14 24

.