Module 4. Nutrition Support of NACS: A User's Guide

Nutrition Support includes nutrition-specific interventions such as counseling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and optimal dietary habits, as well as the provision of micronutrient supplements and specialized food products to address the immediate causes of malnutrition. It also includes nutrition-sensitive interventions that can help improve food security, nutritional status, and health outcomes, such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support, and economic strengthening and livelihood support. Among children, stunting (chronic malnutrition) occurs when a child grows poorly due to inadequate diet and/or frequent illness, resulting in a height that is significantly below what is expected for a healthy child of the same age. Stunted children are more likely to die of infectious diseases and have compromised cognitive and motor development. Acute malnutrition occurs when a child is wasted (too thin) due to rapid weight loss or inadequate weight gain, or experiences bilateral pitting edema. It is caused by an inadequate amount or quality of food, severe and/or repeated infections, or a combination of these. Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is characterized by moderate wasting, as identified by low weight-for-height, BMI-for-age, and/or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and does not have bilateral pitting edema. Children with MAM are three times more likely to die of infectious diseases than well-nourished children. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is characterized by severe wasting, as identified by very low weight-for-height, BMI-for-age, and/or MUAC, and/or the presence of bilateral pitting edema of nutritional origin. Children with SAM are up to nine times more likely to die than well-nourished children and require urgent medical treatment and specialized foods to recover. In adults, underweight/thinness occurs when an adult's weight is too low for their height, which can be caused by rapid weight loss over a short period or reflect chronic malnutrition. Underweight adults have increased risk of infection, slower recovery from illness, and increased risk of death, as well as reduced work capacity and productivity. Moderate malnutrition (MAM) refers to moderate thinness, as identified by low BMI and/or low MUAC, and results from inadequate intake and/or utilization of food, severe, repeated, or chronic infections/illness, or a combination of these. Severe malnutrition (SAM) refers to severe thinness, as identified by low BMI, low MUAC, and/or the presence of bilateral pitting edema of nutritional origin, and adults suffering from SAM are at increased risk of death and require medical treatment and specialized therapeutic foods to recover. Micronutrient deficiencies, often called "hidden hunger," are a significant public health concern worldwide. They can occur in both children and adults and are caused by inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Micronutrient deficiencies can lead to a range of health problems, including anemia, weakened immune systems, and impaired cognitive development. In children, micronutrient deficiencies can also lead to growth and developmental delays. In adults, micronutrient deficiencies can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and certain types of cancer.