Malnutrition commonly affects all groups in a community, but infants and young children
are the most vulnerable because of their high nutritional requirements for growth and
development. Another group of concern is pregnant women, given that a malnourished
mother is at high risk of giving birth to a LBW baby who will be prone to growth failure
during infancy and early childhood, and be at increased risk of morbidity and early death.
Malnourished girls, in particular, risk becoming yet another malnourished mother, thus
contributing to the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.