ISLAMABAD: Around 2.14 million children are suffering acute malnutrition in parts of Pakistan, according to the latest analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released on Monday.

The acute malnutrition (AMN) analysis conducted in 32 districts of Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh indicated that 23 districts are classified in phase 4 (critical), five in phase 3 (serious) and four in phase 2 (alert).

In the analysed districts across the three provinces, approximately 64 per cent of the population faced multidimensional poverty. The primary contributing factors to acute malnutrition encompassed a range of challenges, including inadequate food quality and quantity, heightened food insecurity, insufficient sanitation coverage, elevated rates of diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and fever, as well as suboptimal health-seeking behaviour.

Furthermore, concerns arise from low to medium levels of exclusive breastfeeding, early childbearing, low birth weight, and a prevalence of malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) in various districts.

This analysis was conducted under the patronage of the provincial health departments of Sindh, Balochistan and KP. The classification of malnutrition was done using IPC protocols, which are developed and implemented worldwide by the IPC Global Partnership.

23 districts in Balochistan, KP and Sindh classified as critical, five as serious

The districts classified in IPC phase 4 are: Jafferabad, Kachhi, Kalat, Kharan, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Loralai, Naseerabad, Nushki, Pishin, Quetta, Washuk, Dadu, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, Khair­pur, Mirpurkhas, Naushahro Feroze, Qambar-Shahdadkot, San­ghar, Tharparkar, Thatta and Umerkot.

The districts of Khuzdar, Matiari, Sukkur, Kohistan Lower and Nowshera are classified in IPC phase 3, whereas Upper Dir, Swat, Malakand and Charsadda appear in phase 2.

During the projected period (Oct 2023 to Jan 2024), the AMN phase classification for Upper Dir and Swat is expected to deteriorate from IPC phase 2 to phase 3, whereas Matiari and Kohistan Lower’s situation was also likely to deteriorate from IPC phase 3 to phase 4.

Compared to the current analysis period, the phase classification for the remaining districts is expected to remain unchanged during the projected period, regardless of seasonal fluctuations in acute malnutrition rates (whether they improve, worsen, or stay the same).

Acute malnutrition is influenced by a combination of contributing factors, including insufficient food quality and quantity within households, inadequate sanitation coverage, elevated rates of diarrhea, acute respiratory infections and fever, as well as a poor healthcare-seeking behaviour.

Furthermore, the districts face additional challenges such as suboptimal exclusive breastfeeding rates and a high prevalence of malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women in several areas. The impact of the 2022 flooding further exacerbated the problem of acute malnutrition in most flood-affected districts, as it disrupted the health system and hindered access to healthcare services.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2023