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Abstract
Introduction: Undernutrition is a problem in child health around the world, especially in developing or low and middle-income countries. This systematic review aimed to identify various programs to overcome undernutrition in children under five years old in developing or low and middle countries.
Methods: This study used PRISMA guidelines and searched the literature in several electronic databases. The criteria were limited to descriptive studies, cross-sectional and experimental studies published in 2015-2019.
Results: National programs called JUNTOS and CRECER in Peru and unconditional child cash grant (CCG) in Nepal have shown successful result in reducing undernutrition in children and reducing stunting by >12% as well as studies in India and Pakistan at communities level through programs of participatory and learning action (PLA), creches, home visits, CARING trial, and the REFANI-P.
Conclusion: The program should be performed at all levels and be focused on socioeconomic factors, health accessibilities, and education.
Keywords: undernutrition, under-five children, program, developing countries
INTRODUCTION
The problem of undernutrition is still a major health problem globally, especially in developing and lower-middle-income countries, such as Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and others (Huicho, et al. 2016). Children with undernutrition can experience growth failure or even death if left untreated. Nearly 20 million children in the world suffer severe undernutrition, and ± 1 million of them die every year (Ruwandasari, 2019). World Health Organization (WHO) states that countries in Asia are the biggest contributors to children with undernutrition by 68%, followed by African countries by 28% (WHO, 2019). The nutritional status of children in Indonesia has been recorded regularly in Indonesia (Hadju, et al. 2017). Indonesia Basic Health Research data in 2018 showed the prevalence of under-five children with undernutrition status in Indonesia was still high at 17.7% (Indonesia Ministry of Health, 2018).
Undernutrition is considered a problem that can limit the child's ability to learn, resulting in lower academic achievement compared to children with proper nutrition (Sinurat, et al. 2018). Normal nutritional status would be achieved if the nutrient intake needs are met optimally (Aritonang, et al. 2016). Nutrition problem is caused by factors that are directly or indirectly interrelated. To measure the nutritional status based on Body Mass Index (BMI) with a calculation of the number of a person s weight and height (Amelia...