Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2014 Sep;17(3):135-139. 10.5223/pghn.2014.17.3.135.

Nutritional State of Children in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK): Based on the DPRK Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012

• Kim JE

• KMID: 1803112
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2014.17.3.135

Abstract

A nationwide nutrition survey began when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) requested assistance from international relief organizations in 1997 due to flooding in 1995-1996, followed by the worsening food shortage peak in 1997. According to reported data for the 15 years since the active intervention and assistance from international societies, the malnutrition and mortality rates of children in the DPRK have improved. However, the prevalence of the stunting reported in the latest 2012 report is 27.9%, which is still a moderate-severe level, and worrisome in terms of international standards. In particular, the prevalence in Ryangangdo, which is regarded as the worst region in the DPRK, is 39.6%, which is a very high level of stunting. To alleviate such regional deviation will be a major task for future assistance. In addition, one cannot emphasize too highly the importance of early nutritional assistance for pregnant women and infants, considering that the recovery from stunted growth is low after two years of age, and the aftereffects would continue for the rest of their lives.

Keyword

Nutirition status; Child; Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Nutrition surveys

MeSH Terms

Child*
Democratic People's Republic of Korea*
Female
Humans
Infant
Malnutrition
Mortality
Nutrition Surveys*
Pregnant Women
Prevalence

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Trends of prevalence by malnutrition type. Data source: Excerpt from the reports of multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) [2]/nutrition surveys (NS) [3] in 1998, MICS in 2000 [4], NS in 2002 [5], NS in 2004 [6], MICS in 2009 [7] and NS in 2012 [1].

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  Fig. 2 Prevalence of global (H/A<-2 Z-scores), moderate (H/A≥ -3 Z-scores), and severe (H/A<-3 Z-scores) chronic malnutrition based on height of age Z-score per province in children aged 0-59 months. Democratic People's Republic of Korea, October 2012 (95% confidence interval) [1]. H/A: height/age.

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  Fig. 3 Global, moderate & severe chronic malnutrition prevalence by age groups in months. Democratic People's Republic of Korea, October 2012 (95% confidence interval) [1].

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  Fig. 4 Causes of under-five deaths in Democratic People's Republic of Korea count down to 2015, report 2010 (source: World Health Organization, 2010). HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

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  Fig. 5 Child Mortality Trend in Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1990-2011. IMR: infant mortality rate.

Reference

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