Countries that experience high rates of malnutrition frequently also have high birth rates. This often compounds the problem of malnutrition, as an older child may be weaned earlier than recommended when a younger sibling is born.

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In times of decreased food in the home, a very young child does not yet have the ability to compete with older and equally hungry family members for what food is available.

The young child's need for supervision may also prevent the child from taking part in village foraging like that of older children. (School-age children often find food at other homes or in the area around their villages, picking berries or raiding gardens.)

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By age five, a child typically has the dexterity, independence and shrewdness to seek out food, and his/her immune system has had exposure to disease and time to mature. At this point, the child is less likely to experience severe acute malnutrition.