This indicator represents the proportion of children under the age of five who display stunting, defined as a height-for-age measurement more than two standard deviations below the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards. Stunting is a critical marker of chronic undernutrition and reflects patterns of inadequate nutrition, health care, and environmental conditions experienced during a child's formative years. By identifying children within this metric, policymakers and health practitioners can target interventions aimed at improving nutritional outcomes and overall health. The emphasis on those below -2 SD provides insight into the severity of malnutrition, while also encompassing the subset that falls below -3 SD, highlighting the urgent need for support in vulnerable populations. This measurement is
essential for assessing the effectiveness of nutrition programs and health policies.
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