Promoting Nutrition for Women and Children during Early Childhood
Proper nutrition in the early stages of life is vital for establishing a strong foundation for lifelong health and plays a critical role in shaping a nation’s high-quality human capital. Supporting maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy has a profound impact on a child’s growth, development, and long-term well-being.
According to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 2 aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. This objective encourages all member states to strengthen nutrition promotion efforts and create environments that ensure access to quality food. The global target for ending malnutrition by 2030 is to reduce the prevalence of stunting among children under five by 50%, while keeping rates of wasting and overweight below 3%.
In Thailand, the Nutrition Bureau under the Department of Health serves as the leading agency for managing and promoting nutrition systems through innovation, technology, and community participation. Its mission is to ensure that people of all age groups achieve optimal nutritional status and can independently manage their food and nutrition in ways that enhance their health.
The Women’s and Early Childhood Nutrition Promotion Group of the Bureau of Nutrition plays a key role in advancing SDG 2, which focuses on addressing and mitigating malnutrition in young children. This mission is carried out through collaborations with local networks to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and obesity in early childhood.
Efforts are also directed toward improving the quality of nutrition services at Antenatal Care (ANC) clinics and Well-Child Clinics (WCC). These initiatives aim to create a supportive environment that enhances access to nutritious food. The ultimate objective is to ensure that young children achieve optimal nutrition, reach their full physical and cognitive potential, and enjoy a good quality of life. By doing so, Thailand aims to successfully reduce early childhood malnutrition in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Driving Key Initiatives
1. Integration of Local Network Partnerships and Communication to Address Stunting, Wasting, and Obesity in Early Childhood through the “Power of 3 Constructs” Model
The Department of Health under the Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Local Administration under the Ministry of Interior have jointly committed to fostering collaboration in driving policies to combat malnutrition in early childhood. This initiative is implemented through the “Power of 3 Constructs” model, which aims to enhance early childhood development by addressing stunting, wasting, and obesity. The model is built on three key pillars:
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Establishing Operational Policies
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Building Strong Network Partnerships
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Fostering Resource Collaboration
This framework is designed to manage and reduce malnutrition in Thai children during early childhood by engaging network partners across all 76 provinces of Thailand. The initiative aims to promote optimal growth, prevent malnutrition, and enhance the quality of life for young children by creating environments that foster sustainable health and development. Ultimately, it seeks to cultivate a generation of healthy, quality and capable citizens, contributing to a society where individuals of all ages enjoy improved health and well-being as they age.
2.Enhancing Health Literacy and Nutrition Skills for Women and Children in Early Childhood
Improving health literacy, nutritional knowledge, and practical skills for women and young children is critical to the success of early childhood health interventions. Recognizing this, the Women’s and Early Childhood Nutrition Promotion Group has developed innovative tools and academic knowledge packages tailored to the nutritional needs of pregnant women and children aged 0–5 years. These resources aim to strengthen the capacity of field personnel and local network partners in promoting age-appropriate dietary practices and essential nutrition education.
The program aims to equip pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve better nutrition and overall health, thereby laying the foundation for healthier, more resilient future generations through the following initiatives:
Early Childhood Nutrition Goals for Thai Children under 5 years by 2027
Optimum Growth More than 70 %
Stunting Less than 8.0%
Wasting Less than 5.0%
Overweight Less than 8.0 %
Additional Information on Maternal and Early Childhood Nutrition Operational Policies:
