Nutrition and Health in Third World Countries

Malnourishment is no longer an issue seen only in the indigent population and developing countries. Many Americans are also plagued with this issue, largely due to unhealthy food choices. Providing a multidisciplinary approach to public nutrition

Main Point: Third world countries lack accessibility to clean water exposing them to disease and harmful toxins that result in 2.4 million deaths annually (Bartram, 2010).

Two out of every five people living in Sub-Saharan Africa lack safe water. A baby there is 500 times more likely to die from water-related illness than one from the United States. This is a serious ongoing issue that requires the rest of the world to take action. Water spreads diseases easily if the necessary precautions are not taken. Many developing African countries don’t have sewage treatment, or the people don’t have methods to filter and disinfect. Once a person is sick either there is no way to cure them, or medical care is too expensive, so they are left untreated with a high risk of death. Although many believe that the fight for sanitary water in Africa is insurmountable, people in these developing countries can overcome their challenge to access clean water and avoid water-borne diseases through proper sewage treatment facilities, universal water filtration and medical care.

A major challenge and cause of serious medical issues in Sub-Saharan Africa is the lack of access to a clean water supply. There are 345 million people that lack access to water in Africa. Unfortunately, when water is available it is high in contamination. When wells are built and water sanitation facilities are developed, they cannot be maintained properly to due to limited financial resources. Water quality testing is not performed as often as necessary and the people are unaware that the water may not be safe to drink. Oftentimes, when a source of water has been provided, the quantity of water is often given more attention over the quality of. Lack of clean drinking is the leading cause of diarrheal diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and causes 7.7% of deaths in Africa. Diarrhea is caused by numerous bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms most of which can be spread by contaminated water. The importance of diarrheal diseases has mostly been overlooked. Through UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) there have been some accomplishments during the

“What does malnutrition look like? Most of us think of bloated bellies or skin and bones, but the appearance of a hungry child might surprise you. Internationally hunger often stunts growth. Imagine a 9-year-old who appears to be only 5” (“Feed the Children.” Feed). Almost 1 billion kids worldwide live in poverty and 1 in 4 children around the world suffer from malnutrition that stunts growth (“Feed the Children.” Give). This is a very big problem not only in America but everywhere else, malnutrition is the cause of almost half of child deaths each year around the world (“Feed the Children.” Give). It is close to impossible for a malnourished child to recover from diarrhea or to fight off a small illness because their immune system is just simply too weak (“Feed the Children.”

An average of 1.8 billion people around the world face the problem of unsanitary drinking water. From adults to children living in developing countries they risk disease and illness by drinking unsafe water. More than 840,000 people die a year related to water disease, and are faced with symptoms such as diarrhea. Diarrhea alone, from poor drinking water and sanitation, kills approximately 2,300 people per day. Related to this statistic one child dies every minute from water-related illnesses. Many people around the world are faced with a water issue such as unsanitary drinking water, and women spend hours each day collecting water just to survive. The people in theses countries have no option since without water humans can’t

Women decide to breastfeed for the amazing benefits it leaves in the future for the baby. During the first six months it is crucial for a baby to get breastfed because it provides many necessary nutrients to promote an optimal infant weight gain. Breast milk produces antibodies that help resist harmful diseases and infections such as leukemia, lymphoma, pneumonia and eye and ear infections. There are two significant nutrients in breast milk which are not in store bought formula, protein and fats. Store bought formula do not contain the DHA and cholesterol that breast milk has which helps assist the infants cardiovascular and nervous system.

Whether to breastfeed or to formula feed is one of the many decisions parents have to make when caring for a newborn baby. The decision may seem simple in which parents base there decision on comfort, convenience and finance but little do most parents know the decision being made can have damaging long term effects than that of the present. There is plenty of research that state the significance of breastfeeding that go far beyond the extent of bonding between mother and newborn. Although, that too is important. Breast milk is known to contain antibodies which can help the newborn in developing a strong immune system which influence all the body systems. Research has shown that breast-milk can help prevent long term diseases such as

Breastmilk is the gold standard for infant nutrition. It provides unique proteins that protect from viruses and bacteria infections, E. Coli, and salmonella. The fats found in human breastmilk are necessary for brain, eye, and nervous system development. It also contains special carbohydrates that decrease unhealthy bacteria in the stomach, helping to fight off diarrhea. Breastmilk contains the vitamins and minerals that babies need for healthy growth and development. There are also several other components, only found in human breastmilk, that are living cells that help to fight infection and illness. Breastmilk completely meets a baby’s nutrition

Certain attributes such as ethnic or religious eating habits or economic necessity by the parents are some of the main reasons we see that children in third world countries suffer from malnutrition (Piercecchi-Marti, M. 2006). Many children in third world countries are born into lower class families who's parents are not able to provide enough food for their children. Due to this, researchers find that malnutrition is more prone to areas of

Children need the benefits that come from breast milk. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their child before they risk further damages concerning their well-being. Breastfeeding has become a huge part of development in a child’s life in creating a longer life expectancy. “One large study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that children who are breastfed have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year than children who weren't breastfed, with longer breastfeeding associated with lower risk” (Babycenter). With the child's life at risk, it has become critical for a mother to breastfeed her child. It is very imperative that a child receives the care and nutrients it needs to survive. Higher levels of nutrients through breast milk have given the child the ability to survive

Diarrhoea is a leading cause of death in children under five years of age globally; with an estimated of 1.5 million child deaths per year and that, these diarrhoeal diseases are the most common health outcome of unsafe water and poor sanitation this leads to further health impacts of water poverty (WHO, 2008, p. 422). Liu et al., (2012, p.381) stated that diarrhoea caused by lack of water, sanitation and hygiene is a leading cause of death in children under five years globally. Gasana et al., (2002, p. 76) stated in their study conducted in Rwanda, that the impact of water supply and sanitation on diarrhoeal morbidity among young children is socioeconomic and cultural.

As it is the natural source of nutrition for babies, breast milk is the best food to give a baby. The benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition. Not only does breast milk contain all the vitamins and nutrients a baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect the baby from illness. This is just one of the many reasons exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is recommended by several medical authorities, although any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial (Tucker and Dauffenbach, 304). Much scientific research shows that breastfeeding is good for the mother’s health as well. While breastfeeding is the most optimal choice of nutrition for a baby, there may be factors preventing a mother from deciding to breastfeed. Thus, the decision to breastfeed is a personal matter. It is also a decision that is likely to draw strong opinions from friends and family. “Many medical authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly recommend breastfeeding” (Tucker and Dauffenbach, 303). However, each mother and her baby are unique, and the decision is solely in the mother’s control (Tucker and Dauffenbach, 303). This essay presents just a few of the many important factors and benefits that breastfeeding offers the mother and baby.

In waterborne outbreaks the pathogen does not always have to come from drinking the contaminated water because many different disease-causing microbes can be found in a tiny sample of unsafe water (4(pg.4)). Safe water can be limited once a natural disaster happens, and unsafe water, filled with disease causing microbes, is lurking all around. The disease most commonly associated with the consumption of unsafe water is the diarrheal disease, which can be caused by a few different microbes. Most cases of diarrheal disease outbreaks have been recorded after flooding. It is believed that flooding causes the disease, but in reality, the disease is caught by the consumption of the contaminated water (1(pg.2)). Even though floods are the main source of the disease, earthquakes and population displacement can also be a cause (2(pg.6)). One incident in Indonesia after a tsunami left one hundred percent of the surviving population drinking unsafe water. This resulted in eighty-five percent of those people having diarrhea for two consecutive weeks. Another outbreak in Bangladesh in 2004 involved over 17,000 cases and was caused by Escheria coli (1(pg.2)). The U.S. also had a case of the diarrheal disease in 2003 when a sever power outage left New York City powerless for weeks (2(pg.9)). Additionally, the U.S. experienced many cases of diarrhea after hurricanes Allison and Katrina because of microbes being present (1(pg.2)).

Nearly 5,000 children die every day from a water-related illness…that's one nearly every 20 seconds. 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of five worldwide is due to a water-related disease. Enrollment rates for girls have been shown to improve by over 15% when provided with clean water and toilet facility, because girls no longer have to walk miles every day to fetch water. (UN) 90% of the deaths due to diarrheal diseases are children under 5 years old, mostly in developing countries. (UN) Malnutrition, due to dirty water, inadequate sanitation, and hygiene, is estimated to lead to death in 2,350 children under the age of five each day. (World Health Organization) Lack of access to sanitation for girls reaching puberty becomes a central cultural and human health issue, contributing to female illiteracy and low levels of education, and contributing to a cycle of poor health for pregnant women and their children. (UN)