Prevalence and Determinants of Protein Energy Malnutrition

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is a disease noted to be caused by poverty, ignorance and environmental related factors. Although Children under five years under the NHIS policy is exempted from premiums, the disease continues to be prevalent among children under two years in Ahafo Ano South District of Ghana. The high prevalence of PEM at the district continues to hinder the acheivement of the Millennium Development Goal 4. Mothers with children less than two years suffering from PEM are also said to be suffering from several problems such as absenteeism from work and also low productivity. Again the disease retards child's growth and the childs cognitive development. The most interesting aspect of it is that, education, provision of safe drinking water and good nutritional status could have helped reduced the high prevalence of PEM at the district. Meanwhile, the district continue to suffer from inadequate safe drinking water and lack of education among mothers especially teenagers. This preliminary readings should therefore alert NGO's and philanthropists to help constract safe drinking water at the district to help reduce high prevalence of PEM at the District.