Malnutrition and the mental health of children: the sub-Saharan Africa perspective

Abstract

Child malnutrition has been a notably significant health challenge over the years especially in Africa where the prevalence is high. The World Health Organization has defined malnutrition as deficiencies or excesses in the intake of nutrients, imbalance of essential nutrients or impaired use of nutrients. Studies have further shown that the burden of malnutrition in children in Africa can be traced to the sub-Saharan region of Africa. A lot of factors are responsible for this some of which include; poverty, ignorance, inaccessibility of quality food items, among others. And although malnutrition in children is associated with a number of non-communicable diseases, it has a significant association with mental health affecting motor, cognitive and behavioural development, etcetera. Several researches have highlighted the relationship between malnutrition in children and mental health disorders. Hence, this paper discusses the relationship between malnutrition and the mental health of children in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of malnutrition-induced mental health disorders in this region, factors affecting this prevalence as well as suggestions involving the government at various levels in the region, not-for-profit organizations, individuals and the entire society at large in addressing this very serious issue as it affects the future of the next generation.