Although the impact of malnutrition in women and girls has been known for a long time, little meaningful progress has been made in addressing the unique nutritional issues that they face. Lack of awareness of the signs of malnutrition, such as the fatigue and melancholy brought on by an iron shortage, may be brushed off as “normal” or irrelevant, aggravating the situation. Even when people talk about malnutrition or donate for food in India, there is no specific focus on the case of women and girls.
Many women and teenage girls throughout the world suffer from malnutrition, which is characterised as illness brought on by deficits in calories, protein, vitamins, calories, protein and minerals interacting with infections and other poor health and social environments.
Women are at risk from malnutrition in a number of ways. It impairs women’s capacity to endure delivery, increases their vulnerability to disease, and depletes their reserves, making it harder for them to recover from illness.
Malnourished mothers of HIV-positive children may be more prone to pass the infection on to their offspring and to progress from HIV to AIDS more quickly. Women’s productivity, ability to earn money, and capability to take care of their family are all compromised by malnutrition.
Reducing malnutrition in women and girls has a variety of good impacts because fit women are better able to carry out their many responsibilities like guaranteeing the nutrition of their families, and producing healthy children.
The health and nutritional condition of the whole family can be impacted by the awareness of women because they are responsible for preparing food. It is vital to promote greater gender equality by giving more power over resources and decision-making authority.
Nutrition fosters Gender Equality
- Better Health Results
Long before they’re even born, females can be protected by a healthy diet. Babies who receive adequate nutrition experience fewer episodes of illnesses like diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia etc. As they grow, they become less susceptible to non-communicable illnesses like diabetes and obesity.
Healthy pregnancy and reproductive health depend on a good diet. Pregnant women who receive adequate nutrition are much less likely to become one of the 810 women who perish each day due to pregnancy and delivery. They are more likely to give birth to healthy infants.
- Increased Involvement in the Economy
A woman’s chances of finding employment are significantly harmed by malnutrition. For instance, children who receive enough nutrition have a 33% higher chance of escaping poverty as adults than children who do not. Anemia, a disorder that disproportionately affects women, lowers women’s physical and mental abilities to accomplish their jobs.
Malnourished females also frequently drop out of school, which hinders their capacity to find well-paying employment. Prenatal vitamins are a simple remedy that can have a big impact on the financial and economic stability of pregnant mothers.
- More Educational Achievement
Good nutrition for the girl child promotes brain development and improves their academic performance. The effects of nutrition are staggering; starving youngsters have IQs that are up to 18 points lower than their well-nourished classmates.
A healthy diet helps girls concentrate better in class and stay in school longer. This causes them to get married later, have fewer kids, and have higher earning capacity.
Summary
In addition to enabling women to contribute positively to the community, proper nutrition is crucial. This directly affects the future growth and wellbeing of the next generation. Finally, governments’ efforts to achieve important development goals are hampered by the effects of malnutrition on women and girls.
To know about Smile Foundation’s initiatives to provide adequate nutrition to children and women and donate for food in India, visit https://donate.smilefoundationindia.org/plate-half-full
