Lancet Series, Child development in developing countries
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Copied as fair use
The Lancet 2007; 369:145-157
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60076-2
Child development: risk factors for adverse outcomes in developing countries
Prof Susan P WalkerPhD et al
Summary
Poverty and associated health, nutrition, and social factors prevent at least 200 million children in developing countries from attaining their developmental potential. We review the evidence linking compromised development with modifiable biological and psychosocial risks encountered by children from birth to 5 years of age. We identify four key risk factors where the need for intervention is urgent: stunting, inadequate cognitive stimulation, iodine deficiency, and iron deficiency anaemia. The evidence is also sufficient to warrant interventions for malaria, intrauterine growth restriction, maternal depression, exposure to violence, and exposure to heavy metals. We discuss the research needed to clarify the effect of other potential risk factors on child development. The prevalence of the risk factors and their effect on development and human potential are substantial. Furthermore, risks often occur together or cumulatively, with concomitant increased adverse effects on the development of the world's poorest children.
This is the second in a Series of three articles about child development in developing countries
Complete article is available at the following site:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607600762/fulltext
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Rana Jawad Asghar MD. MPH.
Coordinator South Asian Public Health Forum
mailto:jawad@alumni.washington.edu
http://www.DrJawad.com
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