WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Women suffer disproportionately from hunger, poverty, and disease—seven out of 10 hungry people worldwide are women. Hunger and poverty are directly related to the status of women in society; because women are often the main caregivers in their families, they are the critical link in improving children’s overall well being.
“As the celebration of women’s history month comes to a close, we must not forget the millions of women around the world who continue to struggle,” said Asma Lateef, director of Bread for the World Institute. “Unfortunately, where there is hunger and poverty, there is almost always poor access to maternal and child health care.”
A new analysis by Bread for the World Institute, “Maternal and Child Health,” examines the connections between poverty and maternal and child health in developing countries. The analysis also highlights the importance of proper nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life — from pregnancy to the child’s second birthday. Research shows the effects of malnutrition during this critical time period are irreversible.
“The United States and other countries must support foreign assistance programs that emphasize better nutrition for women and children,” said Lateef. “Maternal mortality and child malnutrition can be reversed by improving the social, economic, and political status of rural women. Progress has been made, but work still remains.”
Half of the world’s small farmers are women. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their small farms by 20-30 percent—which could lead to 100-150 million fewer people living in hunger.
To find out more about Bread for the World, visit the website at www.bread.org.
