Nutritional status research in Uganda: A critical review and trend analysis

Abstract

Uganda is ranked 77th out of 95 countries in terms of under-nutrition prevalence. Under-nutrition is closely linked to 40% of all mortalities among children below 5 years of age. It is projected that by 2050 malnutrition in all its dimensions combined will cost the country US $ 7.7 billion (19 trillion Uganda Shillings) in lost productivity, yet timely investing in nutrition would translate into an economic gain of US$ 1.7 billion (4.3 trillion Uganda shillings) through enhanced productivity. A critical review and trend analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) approach was carried out. This was aimed at critically assessing the status of nutrition and identifying existing research gaps and intervention options. In addition, the study was focused on generating evidence for nutrition policy discourse. The review mainly focused on peer reviewed publications, covering the period from 2011 to 2022. A total of 215 materials were downloaded, 28 articles were used for literature review and 14 were used for further synthesis and trend analysis. It was found that stunting among children under 5 years was higher in the rural areas (37%) than in the urban areas (34%). Wasting and underweight among the same age group were most rampant in northern region, with prevalence rates of 7.5% and 14.6%, respectively, while stunting was most prevalent in western region (33.2%). Available data showed increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight. The proportion of women 15-49 years who were overweight or obese increased from 17% in 2006 to 19% in 2011 and 24% in 2016. On the other hand, prevalence of thinness among women aged 15-49 years declined from 12% in 2006 and 2011 to 9% in 2016. The review unearthed dearth of literature on nutrition for the elderly, adolescents and young adults. It would be prudent to invest in research to bridge the identified gaps. The outcome of such studies would be instrumental in informing nutrition policy in Uganda. Key words: Stunting, Obesity, Underweight, Overweight, Micronutrient deficiency