WHO/UNICEF guide for research on wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under 5 years: a global research priority agenda, guidance on evidence generation and core outcome sets

Overview

Addressing wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children requires prioritizing key areas for research. The development of the 2023 WHO guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema highlighted substantial evidence gaps and variability in outcome measurement and reporting. Research therefore needs to be reliable, robust, relevant and well reported to inform decisions on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema within and beyond WHO guidance.

WHO, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has produced this guide for research on wasting and nutritional oedema in infants and children under 5 years of age. It comprises a global research priority agenda, guidance on evidence generation, and core outcome sets to support standardized reporting and synthesis of outcome data. Overall, the guide aims to support the generation of high-quality evidence to inform future WHO guidance. The target audience includes researchers, policy-makers, programme implementers, funders and others involved in research in these populations.