The Impact of Nutrition Supplementation on Stunting


What is Stunting?

Stunting is a result of stunted growth that reflects failure to reach linear growth potential as a result of suboptimal health and/or nutritional conditions. It is typically measured by Z scores (standard deviations from the mean) as low height-for-age stunting or low weight-for-height (wasted). Visit WHO website for more information.

Project Description

This project used survey data to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of a Govt. supplementation programme initiated in Indonesia during the financial crisis of 1998. Working with publicly available data researchers in Indonesia worked with our health economists to track the effect of this supplementation which was targeted at vulnerable households. The economists measured its impact on stunting prevalence rates in Indonesia pre-and post supplementation.3

Why do this Project?

We initiated this project to highlight to the Government and healthcare stakeholders the prevalence of stunting among children in parts of Southeast Asia (Indonesia). We wanted to evaluate the long-term impact of stunting and its effect on economic productivity and to assess the size of this impact on Indonesia.  

Why is this Important?

Research has demonstrated that being stunted height for weight has a long-term effect where the child who is stunted does not develop sufficiently to reach his or her full earning potential as an adult. Our paper drew on the work of others to show that supplementing vulnerable children did lead to improved earnings as adults.1 Indonesia is suffering from a double burden of under-nutrition and over-nutrition. The growing affluence and adoption of new diets is linked to obesity in children and adults but a large proportion of the population is still facing under -nutrition. Measuring the economic impact of undernutrition can inform health policy.

Research Findings

Using the research findings from other studies our health economists estimated the economic impact of stunting in Indonesia. Using pre-published data, they calculated if severe stunting alone was eliminated it could release $1-$5b in GDP through increased productivity of the un-stunted children. The increase in economic output would result from children achieving optimal growth and realizing their human capital as adults.

Key Message

The key message of this analysis is that many developing countries, not just Indonesia face a double burden of under and over-nutrition. Our analysis suggests that if health care providers could reduce stunting rates by focussing those severely stunted, the Indonesian economy could realise increased productivity.

Stunting is measure of equality which must be addressed through education, good nutrition and equitable access to health and finance. Ensuring vulnerable populations have nutrition at critical stages of their development can play a critical role in addressing such inequality and its lifetime trajectory.
 

References

  1. Hoddinott, J., Maluccio, J., Behrman, Rafael Flores, Reynaldo Martorell (2008) Effect of a nutrition intervention during early childhood on economic productivity in Guatemalan adults/ www.thelancet.com Vol. 371 February 2, 2008 Accessed July 23, 2015
  2. Vaithianathan, R Jiang, N Childhood Stunting, Wasting and Obesity in Indonesia: Evidence from the Indonesian Family Life Survey. Poster presented ISPOR, Sept 2016 Singapore by Vivienne Hunt
  3. Vaithianathan, R and Jiang N (2016) Childhood Stunting, Wasting and Obesity in Indonesia: Evidence from the Indonesian Family Life Survey November 2016 Published Value in Health, ISPOR Journal Volume 19, Issue 7, Page A881