Peer-reviewed article

Addressing Stunting in Children Under Five: Insights and Opportunities from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam-A Review of Literature.

Jalaludin MY, Fauzi MD, Sidiartha IGL, John C, Aviella S et al. · 16 May 2025

Abstract

Background: Stunting remains a significant global health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, around 22% of children under five are affected, with high rates persisting in South and Southeast Asia. This review examines government-led programs in high-performing LMICs (Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam) to identify key strategies and opportunities for effective intervention. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed using keywords and Medical Subject Heading terms, including "stunting", "child undernutrition", "malnutrition" and the names of the three specified countries. Articles were evaluated for relevance based on their focus on stunting prevalence, risk factors, and interventions in these countries, without restrictions on publication date or language. Results: Stunting prevalence among children under five has significantly declined in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam over the past two decades, reflecting the impact of sustained nutrition and health interventions. Nepal reduced stunting from 55.8% in 2000 to 26.7% in 2022, Bangladesh from 54.7% to 26.4%, and Vietnam from 41.5% to 19.3%. Successful strategies included multisectoral approaches integrating nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, enhanced policy frameworks, and strong governance. Despite progress, challenges remain, such as high wasting prevalence in Nepal and disparities among marginalized communities in Vietnam, emphasizing the need for targeted, context-specific interventions. Conclusions: Effective stunting reduction requires multisectoral strategies addressing underlying, intermediate, and immediate determinants. Insights from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam highlight the importance of sustained government commitment, robust policies, and coordinated interventions. Adapting these successful strategies to local contexts can support stunting prevention and management, promoting healthier and more resilient communities.