A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO UNDERNUTRITION IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE AND INFANTS IN ETHIOPIA: AN OVERVIEW.

Abstract

Child malnutrition is a public health issue that concerns the entire world. Children under five and infants who are suffering from undernutrition are highly susceptible to adverse health effects such as disease, growth failure and/or micronutrient deficiencies; consequently, impeding their ability to develop and fulfil their lives to their full potential. In Ethiopia, this issue has been attributed to a set of social determinants of health which facilitates the way we address the issue. In public health, the problem of child undernutrition has been handled via various modalities: from prevention, to management, to treatment. Consequently, efforts to combat child undernutrition require integrated efforts from local, state and national organizations to continue the progress in eradicating child undernutrition in Ethiopia. The following paper discusses the issue of child undernutrition in Ethiopia using a public health approach.