National estimates of the burden of malnutrition, including estimates for child
malnutrition, provide vital information on preventable ill-health, and indicate the health
gains possible from interventions to prevent the risk factor (malnutrition, in this guide).
The results also allow policy-makers to direct resources to the most vulnerable segments
of the population, and thus make better use of resources. Methods for estimating the
burden of malnutrition associated with poverty are outlined in the tenth volume of the
EBD series (Blakely, Hales & Woodward, 2004).