Caught short: How a lack of toilets and clean water contributes to malnutrition

In August 2016, WaterAid released a media report titled, “Caught short” which reveals the worst places in the world for childhood stunting. Globally, one child in every four suffers from stunted growth, which not only affects a child’s height but also impinges on their emotional, social and…

September 5, 2016 - Last update: February 10, 2023

caught_short_report_july2016_001 In August 2016, WaterAid released a media report titled, “Caught short” which reveals the worst places in the world for childhood stunting. Globally, one child in every four suffers from stunted growth, which not only affects a child’s height but also impinges on their emotional, social and cognitive development. Stunting is the consequence of malnutrition in the first two years of a child’s life and is largely irreversible after that age. The report aims to highlight that it’s not just a lack of food which causes malnutrition, but that a lack of access to a safe, private toilet and clean water plays a major role too.