Childhood Malnutrition

According to UNICEF, Guatemala has the highest rate of malnutrition in Latin America and ranks sixth in the world for chronic malnutrition. More than 1 million children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition. An estimated 69.5 percent are indigenous children. An estimated 53 percent of children who die under the age of five die as a result of complications linked to malnutrition. The Centro de Recuperacion Nutricional Infantil Bethania, simply known as Centro Bethania, nourishes children with acute malnutrition back to health. The center treats about 400 children each year and on average eight don't survive.