Situation of malnutrition in Morocco: what results after 40 years of struggle

Introduction: Malnutrition, with its two cons tituents of protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, continues to be a major health burden in developing countries. In Morocco, malnutrition still persists in spite of the fact that the programs against malnutrition have been initiated for more than 30 years. Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze a trend of under nutrition among children under five years during the last 40 years. Methods: This study is based on the analysis of data survey conducted by the Moroccan Ministry of Health between 1971 and 2004. Results and discussion: The statistics compiled over the last four decades have shown that the state of underweight expected by low Weight-for-Age (<-2 standard deviation (SD) of the National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization international reference population) has declined more than 4 times and has decreased from 41.78% in 1971 to 10.2% in 2004. The comparison between rural and urban population is also evident; the rural population is more exposed than the urban, 14% and 10.2% during the same period. The analysis of the trend of stunting prevalence (expected by low height-for-age <-2(SD) of the NCHS/WHO) between 1971 and 2004 remains very high (18.1% in 2004). Child mortality does not take the scale in our country. It decreased from 203 % in 1962 to 43 % in 2004. Conclusion: Analyses of the trends over the past 40 years show a steady and remarkable decline in under nutrition prevalence. Despite this improvement, malnutrition constitutes a major public health problem for both rural and urban areas. However, the most serious problem is the high and stagnant prevalence of stunting and the high mortality in under-five children; thus a sustainable improvement in food security, nutrition and medical health must be taken to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Yet this high prevalence of stunting at childhood leads to a high risk of obesity and chronic diseases at the adulthood and illus trate well the failure of the policies for fighting malnutrition in Morocco.