B) SOCIO-CULTURAL CAUSES

The social situation

13. Certain socio-cultural factors have been shown to increase the risks of famine and chronic malnutrition. Food taboos, the social and family status of women—their real influence within the family, the lack of training for mothers in feeding and nutrition techniques, widespread illiteracy, and insecurity regarding work and unemployment are some of the factors that can accumulate and cause malnutrition as well as dire poverty. Let us keep in mind that not even the developed countries themselves are immune to this scourge. The same factors create occasional or chronic malnutrition on the part of many of the "new poor" just as they are beginning to catch up with the others who live in affluence and over-consumption.