The HSRC survey reported an overall prevalence of stunting for children under the age of 5 years of 28.8%, of which 14.8% was severe, and 14.0% was moderate stunting.
This indicates an increase on the 2017 statistics reported in the South Africa Child Guage 2020 report on child nutrition. The report referred to “the slow violence of malnutrition” affecting South Africa’s children.
It said then that South Africa’s rate for stunting in children under 5 years old was 27%, and had been extremely high for 20 years while the rates in other African countries had dropped.
Stunting, a sign of chronic malnutrition, undermined the children’s future education and earning potential.
The Child Guage report said that urgent intervention was necessary to address South Africa’s child food and nutrition insecurity. The HSRC survey indicates that, instead of getting better, the number of malnourished children is increasing.
