Save the Children in Cambodia on Thursday organised a Piecing It Together Evidence Forum to present the Formative Research Findings on Child Wasting Issue in three provinces in Cambodia and facilitated discussions to gather input from stakeholders to prioritize nutrition promotion and reduce the issue.

Formative Research on Child Wasting in Cambodia was carried out from August 2023 to May 2024 in Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang and Koh Kong provinces with the funding support of Save the Children Japan as well as the cooperation of relevant stakeholders.
A recent assessment by Save the Children International reveals a lower overall prevalence of malnutrition compared to the 2021 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey, except in Kampong Chhnang and Koh Kong where stunting and underweight rates are higher, respectively. The data highlights a critical need for improved complementary feeding practices, as wasting is most prevalent among children over 12 months, and notably high among infants aged 0-5 months in Kampong Cham, where exclusive breastfeeding rates are just 48%.
Additionally, the study finds poor dietary diversity, with only 1 in 8 children are eating at least five different foods and 70% are consuming no vegetables. Gender norms and the conflict between income generation and caregiving are major barriers to optimal feeding practices. Lastly, limited awareness of malnutrition signs and reliance on routine health check-ups for identifying malnutrition further challenge timely care-seeking and treatment.

To address child wasting, priorities include scaling up early detection and treatment for acute malnutrition by enabling community health workers to reach the 80% of children currently not accessing treatment, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, and investing in community and primary healthcare to prevent and treat childhood illnesses. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of these prioritized actions, these efforts must be designed to accommodate working parents and caregivers to reflect the shifts in the Cambodian economy and workforce.
In an opening remark, Mr. Chanborith ROS, Head of Program Development, Quality and Impact, said the finding not only paints a picture of both progress and ongoing challenges but also suggests there are still opportunities to enhance our collective efforts in addressing child wasting. These findings align closely with the priority areas outlined in the UN Global Action Plan on Child Wasting through four key areas including, strengthening maternal nutrition to reduce low birthweight, improving child health through integrated primary care and WASH services, enhancing infant and young child feeding practices, and expanding access to treatment for wasted children.

“We believe progress in these areas requires continued investment in community-based approaches, health system strengthening, social protection, and food systems that deliver affordable, nutritious diets to all families,” Mr. Chanborith said.
H.E. Dr. Chea Samnang, Deputy Chief of @the Council of Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), believes that the Formative Research on Child Wasting in Cambodia really responds to the real situation in Cambodia and this problem must be eliminated to prevent children from developing stunting, serious risk to organ development, brain health, learning and productivity, etc.

"Strengthening and expanding the research services for children with malnutrition promptly, timely prevention and treatment is an effective mechanism to help eliminate the child wasting issue," he said.
The CARD is a member of the Global Action Review Panel for Child Wasting, responsible for leading, coordinating, formulating policies and strategies, and mobilizing all kinds of assistance from development partners in the areas of food security, nutrition and food systems.
According to the CDHS since 2000, the prevalence of Child Wasting was 17% in 2000, 8% in 2005, 11% in 2010, 10% in 2014, and 10% in 2021-2022. Based on this figure, the prevalence of emaciated children from 2014 to 2021-2022 has not reduced and is stagnant at 10%.