I highly recommend that you read two of my esteemed fellow writer's, Bonnie Boyd's, posts on the Central Asia Blog.
Central Asia: Iodized salt and children's health, which looks at the Xinjiang province of China and the governments efforts to eradicate iodine deficiency's in children.
Tajikistan: 64% poverty, and portents for more, the post looks at three recent articles highlighting the growing poverty in Tajikistan. Bonnie also highlights the effects on children, as many children not only suffer malnutrition, but are forced to assist the family in earning an income and therefore forgo their educations.