Malnutrition most commonly occurs between the ages of six months and two years. This happens despite the child’s food requirements being less than that of an older child. Malnutrition is often attributed to poverty, but it has been found that even in households where adults eat adequate quantities of food, more than fifty per cent of children-under-five do not consume enough food. The child’s dependence on someone else to feed him/her is primarily responsible for the malnutrition. Very often the mother is working and the responsibility of feeding the young child is left to an older sibling. It is therefore crucial to increase awareness regarding the child’s food needs and how to satisfy them.
According to the passage, malnutrition in children can be reduced:
The passage explicitly states that it is "crucial to increase awareness regarding the child’s food needs and how to satisfy them." This directly indicates that understanding the specific nutritional requirements of younger children is essential for mitigating malnutrition, which is often linked to the child's dependence on others for feeding rather than solely to food scarcity or poverty.
While regular food intake is important, the passage implies that merely providing food regularly is insufficient without a clear understanding of the child's specific nutritional needs. The core issue highlighted is the lack of awareness regarding appropriate feeding practices and requirements, making option (a) an incomplete solution.
The passage identifies the critical period for malnutrition as between six months and two years. It does not suggest that malnutrition naturally resolves or is reduced simply by children crossing the age of five. This option (b) is not supported by the information provided.
The passage attributes malnutrition primarily to the child's dependence on others and the lack of awareness regarding their food needs, rather than solely to the identity of the feeder. While adult supervision might be beneficial, the passage's emphasis is on knowledge and awareness of nutritional requirements, making option (d) too narrow and not the central solution proposed.