Abstract
Sustainable development goals (SGD) 2 links malnutrition, morbidity and child mortality to stunting, wasting and overweight among children under-5 years of age. Sub-Saharan Africa still registers high nutritionally insecure people. In particular, Malawi has made modest progress in improving nutritional outcomes; and still experiences a number of structural challenges leading to negative nutritional outcomes. We describe trends of under nutrition and how the effect of selected determinants of child nutrition affect Malawian children under-5 from 1992 to 2015–16; and examine the changing patterns of the effect of selected socio-demographic characteristics on stunting and underweight using data from demographic and health surveys (DHS). The analysis included 31,630 children under-5 years from 1992, 2000, 2004, 2010, and 2015–16 DHS. Our outcome measures are stunting (height/length-for-age) and underweight (weight-for-age) less than -2 SD (Z-score). We perform logistic regression to assess the relationship between selected socio-demographic characteristics with the stunting and underweight variables. Underweight decreased by 14.0% from 24.7% (1992) to 10.7% (2015–16). Stunting decreased by 23.0% from 55.6% (1992) to 32.6% (2015–16). Underweight was more prevalent among children from central and southern regions; among male children; and children above 6 months of age or more. Later surveys were associated with reduced likelihood of underweight than the earliest surveys. Similar trends were observed between socioeconomic factors and stunting. The observed underweight and stunting prevalence is 2.2% and 1.9% lower than expected, respectively. Despite modest declines in underweight and stunting among young children in Malawi, underweight and stunting remain significant public health challenges particularly in southern and central Malawi which constitute about 85% of the total population. Interventions to address the critical malnutrition challenges in Malawi are inevitable within the context of SDG 2 on health.
Highlights
The role of nutrition as a key driver of economic development has been well recognized.Nutrition serves as a foundation for healthy individuals and societies
The link between malnutrition, morbidity and child mortality has been highlighted in earlier studies [1] and is the focus of sustainable development goal (SGD) 2, target 2.2 calling for strategies to end all forms of malnutrition focused on stunting, wasting and overweight among children under-5 years of age [2]
Malnutrition is one of the major challenges for child health in sub-Saharan Africa; and globally, more than one-third of postneonatal child deaths are attributable to undernutrition [4]
Summary
The role of nutrition as a key driver of economic development has been well recognized.Nutrition serves as a foundation for healthy individuals and societies. The role of nutrition as a key driver of economic development has been well recognized. Malnutrition impedes human performance, health complications and human survival. Children who are well nourished are able to maximize their potential in expected growth and contribute to socio-economic development over the course of their life. Poor nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life impedes cognitive development, schooling and work performance [3] thereby lowering adult incomes and compromising national development [1]. Malnutrition is one of the major challenges for child health in sub-Saharan Africa; and globally, more than one-third of postneonatal child deaths are attributable to undernutrition [4].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
