Undernutrition in Tajikistan remains animportant public health challenge, albeit a hidden problem.Stunting, iodine deficiency, and maternal and child anemiarepresent the largest burden of undernutrition inTajikistan. In 2009, around 29 percent of children in allregions of the country were stunted. Iodine deficiency wasobserved in 53 percent of children and in 58.6 percent ofwomen. The national prevalence of anemia in children was28.8 percent; however, rates were as high as 39.8 percent inGhorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and in 32 percentdirectly ruled districts (DRD). The prevalence of anemiaamong mothers was 24.2 percent. The long-term effects ofthese conditions negatively affect the health of adultsthroughout their life, as well as their potentialproductivity in the work force and possible economiccontribution to the nation. The highest priorityinterventions will improve infant and young child feeding.Strengthening and scaling up breastfeeding promotion willsave lives and help to reduce stunting as wouldcomplementary feeding for babies six months and older.Promoting exclusive breastfeeding for infants under sixmonths is the most efficacious intervention to save lives,averting nearly 20 percent of deaths in children under-five.Effective programs need to be designed to make more womenaware of the benefits of breastfeeding and sound nutrition.A comprehensive, multi-sector approach is needed to ensuresuccess of these interventions.This report also makesseveral other recommendations including: supplementingpregnant women with either iron folic acid or multiplemicronutrients, maintain twice-annually vitamin Asupplementation, implementing a deworming program, supportfor flour fortification, scale up and maintain zinc for themanagement of diarrhea, and address the underlying and basiccauses of undernutrition through other sectors.
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