Infant and under-five mortality rates in South Asia, except for Sri Lanka, are among the highest in the world. Sanitation is also a problem in South Asia, with only one third of the total population one fifth of the rural population having access to adequate sanitation facilities. Micronutrient deficiencies cause death and disability among the region s children. Vitamin A deficiency is implicated in a substantial proportion of maternal and under-five deaths. Iodine deficiency disorders are the leading cause of mental disability in the world.
Iodized salt is the cost-effective solution.
In Bangladesh and Central Asia, palpable goiter is endemic. The solutions are to improve iodine nutrition for pregnant women so that the embryo s brain development does not suffer, and ensure adequate iodine in early infant feeding that complements breastfeeding. Anemia, a form of iron deficiency, is the most prevalent nutritional problem in the world. In Asia, more than a billion people are iron-deficient. An ADB study showed that at least 65,000 anemic pregnant women die each year in low-income Asia.