
01
Globally, 25 percent of children under five years of age are stunted: 159 million children.
In South Asia, 38 percent of children under five years of age are stunted: 64 million children.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

02
Stunting has early beginnings: the 1,000 days from conception to two years of age.
In India, about 20 percent of children are already stunted at birth.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

03
Stunting has far-reaching consequences. Stunted children are less likely to enroll in school and are more likely to enroll late. They tend to achieve lower grades and have poorer cognitive ability.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

04
When they reach adulthood, stunted children are less productive and have lower earnings. Research shows that stunted children earn 20 percent less as adults compared to non-stunted children.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

05
Stunted children have stunted bodies and brains. Stunted children live stunted lives that hamper the development of their families, communities and entire societies.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/GPirozzi

06
The three main drivers of child stunting in South Asia are: 1) Poor diets of children in the first two years of life 2) Poor nutrition of women before and during pregnancy 3) Poor sanitation practices in households and communities
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

07
The diets of South Asian children are very poor. In Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, less than 25 percent of children aged 6-24 months are fed a minimally-adequate diet.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo

08
The diets of South Asian children are dominated by cereal-based porridges, which are ‘bulky’ and poor in energy and nutrients that are essential for optimal growth and development.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/GPirozzi

09
When sick, many South Asian children (up to 75%) see their complementary foods restricted in frequency, quantity or quality due to traditional beliefs and poor counselling by health workers.
© UNICEFROSA/2016/TNybo