TITLE:
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Hidden Hunger among Children and Reproductive-Age Women in China from 2000 to 2020
AUTHORS:
Wei Li, Ruisi Luo, Yiying Hong, Sijian Wang
KEYWORDS:
Hidden Hunger, Dynamics, Reproductive-Age Women, Children, China
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Applied Sociology,
Vol.15 No.2,
February
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: Hidden hunger compromises immune systems, hinders child growth and development and affects human potential worldwide. However, to our knowledge, the existing estimate of the hidden hunger burden is global and national but lacks sub-national work. We aimed to explore spatiotemporal dynamics and its drivers of the provincial burden of hidden hunger for iron and zinc deficiency among children (aged 0 - 14 years) and women of reproductive age (aged 20 - 29 years) in China from 2000 to 2020. We collected provincial representative disease data of iron and zinc deficiency status based on Statistical Yearbook Data and researches of latest Chinese medical investigations to calculate Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The results show the situation of hidden hunger in China is worse than estimated, and the discrepancy among regions still consists of the main discrepancy in the country. Complementary macro-level economic interventions are required to end hidden hunger of vulnerable population, even all groups.