Chapter 2 The State of Nutrition: Progress Towards Global Nutrition Targets in Latin America and the Caribbean
2.2. WASTING AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5
Child wasting is a life-threatening condition caused by insufficient energy and nutrient intake, poor
energy and nutrient absorption, and/or frequent or prolonged illness. Wasting is one of the most
critical forms of malnutrition in early childhood, as it is associated with a high risk of mortality if
cases are not identified and treated properly in a timely fashion (WHO, 2022a).
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the prevalence of wasting is 1.3 percent (equivalent to 0.7 million
children under 5), significantly below the world average of 6.7 percent. Regarding the subregions in
2020, the Caribbean had a slightly higher rate of 2.8 percent, South America’s was 1.4 percent, and in
Mesoamerica the rate was less than 1 percent. If these levels are sustained, the region is on track to
reach the SDG target of maintaining wasting below 3 percent of the child population.
As can be seen in Figure 9 the countries with
wasting levels above 3 percent are Barbados (6.8 percent), Trinidad and Tobago (6.4 percent), Guyana
(6.4 percent), Suriname (5.5 percent), the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (4.1 percent) and Ecuador
(3.7 percent).
FIGURE 9.
Prevalence of wasting among children under 5 in
Latin America and the Caribbean by country (latest year available)
As previously indicated, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on malnutrition have not yet been fully
revealed. Global projections for wasting indicate that between 11.2 and 16.3 million more children under
5 in low- and middle-income countries could be afflicted between 2020 and 2022 (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP
and WHO, 2022).
