The Nutritional Surveillance Project (NSP) of Helen Keller International (HKI) in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) conducted the survey in 2003.

The survey showed that the prevalence of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection is high among all children, which reflects poor sanitation and unhygienic environment in both poor and wealthy households and communities.

The prevalence of stunting among infants aged between 6 and 11 months is significantly higher among those who were not breastfed properly, it said.

In rural areas, people spend 60 percent of their total expenditure on food and among the wealthiest households it is still 47 percent, the study revealed.

The findings underscore that access to food for all, reducing poverty, generating resources or income as well as education and empowerment of women are essential to reduce malnutrition in the country.