Throughout this past year, over 5800 children were evaluated by the Foundation in the Philippines for under-nutrition. The majority of these children are undernourished as seen in the chart below.
Nutritional Status of Filipino Children Evaluated
Nearly a fourth are acutely malnourished.
An additional 46% have chronic malnutrition.
About 20% are at risk.
Our findings are consistent with the overall status of children in the Philippines. Fortunately, our data show that children in our program are improving over time.
Every six months we re-evaluate the children on our programs by taking new height and weight measurements. This allows us to track their nutritional status and any changes that happen. After four re-evaluation screenings our data shows that height measurement for age has stabilized (see graph below). In most poor countries, height for age declines as children age, and reversal of this decline requires long-term treatment. So, stabilizing the decline in height for age is an important first step.
We can also see that weight for age is improving. Children are still close to the threshold for malnutrition (-2 Standard Deviations) so treatment needs to continue, but the children are getting better.
Children who have the greatest risk of dying have low weight for their height. This indicator in our data shows the greatest improvement, which means the children who were at the greatest risk of dying are moving out of that risk category.
Average Z-score Over Four Consecutive Screening Evaluations
The decline in height for age is stabilizing, which is an important first step in overcoming malnutrition.
Children are still close to the malnutrition threshold (-2) in weight for age and still need treatment, but they are getting better.
Children who have low weight for height are at greatest risk of dying, and this area is showing the greatest improvement in our data.
Progress Over Six-month Period
Six months later, fewer children are malnourished.
16% of children have moved up to the “at risk” category.
5% have reached “normal” status.
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