Editing Infant mortality (section)

====Malnutrition====
{{Main|Undernutrition in children}}
[[File:Hunger Map 2020 World Food Programme.svg|thumb|310px|Percentage of population suffering from hunger, [[World Food Programme]], 2020<br>
{{Legend|#29b8c7|< 2,5%}}
{{Legend|#16b484|2,5–5,0%}}
{{Legend|#fec960|5,0–14,9%}}
{{Legend|#f47846|15,0–24,9%}}
{{Legend|#f2203a|25,0–34,9%}}
{{Legend|#7f0928|> 35,0%}}
{{Legend|#b5aba4|No data}}]]
Malnutrition or undernutrition is defined as inadequate intake of nourishment, such as proteins and vitamins, which adversely affects the growth, energy, and development of people all over the world.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=de Onís M, Monteiro C, Akré J, Glugston G |date=1993 |title=The worldwide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=71 |issue=6 |pages=703–12 |pmc=2393544 |pmid=8313488 }}</ref> It is especially prevalent during pregnancy and in infants and children under 5 who live in developing countries within the poorer regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-09-26 |title=Top 9 countries fighting child malnutrition |first1=Kathryn |last1=Reid |work=World Vision |url=https://www.worldvision.org/hunger-news-stories/top-nine-countries-fighting-child-malnutrition |access-date=2018-07-27}}</ref> Children are especially vulnerable as they have yet to fully develop a strong [[immune system]] and are dependent on their parents to provide the necessary food and nutritional intake. It is estimated that about 3.5 million children die each year as a result of childhood or maternal malnutrition, with [[stunted growth]], low body weight, and low birth weight accounting for about 2.2 million associated deaths.<ref>{{Cite journal |display-authors=6 |vauthors=Martins VJ, Toledo Florêncio TM, Grillo LP, do Carmo P, Franco M, Martins PA, Clemente AP, Santos CD, de Fatima A, Vieira M, Sawaya AL |date=June 2011 |title=Long-lasting effects of undernutrition |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=1817–46 |doi=10.3390/ijerph8061817 |pmc=3137999 |pmid=21776204 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Socioeconomic and environmental factors contribute to malnutrition, as do gender, location, and cultural practices surrounding [[breastfeeding]].<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Mahgoud SE |date=2006 |title=Factors Affecting Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Children Under Three Years Of Age In Botswana |url=https://ubrisa.ub.bw/bitstream/handle/10311/219/Mahgoub_AJFAND_2006.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development |volume=6}}</ref> It is difficult to assess the most pressing factor as they can intertwine and vary among regions.

Children suffering from malnutrition can become underweight, and experience stunting or [[wasting]]. In Africa, the number of stunted children has risen, while Asia has the most children under 5 suffering from wasting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Levels and trends in child malnutrition |url=https://www.unicef.org/media/files/JME_2015_edition_Sept_2015.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525180258/https://www.unicef.org/media/files/JME_2015_edition_Sept_2015.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-25 |access-date=2018-07-27 |website=UNICEF – WHO – World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates}}{{Moved resource|date=July 2023}}</ref> Inadequate nutrients adversely affect physical and cognitive development, increasing susceptibility to severe health problems. Micronutrient deficiency has been linked to [[Iron-deficiency anemia|anemia]], fatigue, [[Vitamin A deficiency#Signs and symptoms|blindness]], [[Iodine deficiency#Goiter|goiter]], poor brain development, and death.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Torpy JM, Lynm C, Glass RM |date=August 2004 |title=JAMA patient page. Malnutrition in children |journal=JAMA |volume=292 |issue=5 |pages=648 |doi=10.1001/jama.292.5.648 |pmid=15292091 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Malnutrition also decreases the immune system's ability to fight infections, resulting in higher rates of death from diseases such as malaria, respiratory disease, and diarrhea.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Tette EM, Sifah EK, Nartey ET |date=November 2015 |title=Factors affecting malnutrition in children and the uptake of interventions to prevent the condition |journal=BMC Pediatrics |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=189 |doi=10.1186/s12887-015-0496-3 |pmc=4653928 |pmid=26586172 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[Folic acid]] during pregnancy is one way to combat iron deficiency. A few [[public health]] measures used to lower levels of iron deficiency anemia include added iodine to salt or drinking water and including vitamin A and multivitamin supplements in the diet.<ref name="Andrews" /> A deficiency of this vitamin causes certain types of [[anemia]] (low red blood cell count).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Folic Acid |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714151130/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000723 |archive-date=14 July 2010 |website=PubMed Health |publisher=]National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine}}</ref>