Abstract
Objective: To explore the prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among infants and children aged six months to five years in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Background: Despite substantial progress over the last 20 years, undernutrition has remained an alarming global challenge. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the prevalence of stunting in children under five has significantly increased. This study seeks to update the evidence on the prevalence and determinants of childhood undernutrition in this vulnerable region.
Methods: This systematic scoping review was conducted following the 2018 PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Five electronic databases were searched on December 14, 2022, with no date or language restrictions. Primary studies presenting evidence on the prevalence and determinants of infants and children aged six months to five years were included. Data on the prevalence (stunting, wasting and underweight) and determinants of undernutrition were extracted, described, and compared to national survey data.
Results: Fifty-nine publications from 11 countries were included, with most studies conducted in Ethiopia (n=38) and Tanzania (n=7). Stunting prevalence ranged from 8% to 64%, wasting prevalence ranged from 1% to 58%, and the prevalence of underweight ranged from 2% to 63%. The most frequently reported determinants of undernutrition were the child’s age (>24 months), male sex, maternal illiteracy, diarrhoea or illness in the past two weeks, low household socioeconomic status or living in a larger household (>4 members). Overall, 56% of the included studies reported higher stunting prevalence, 60% reported higher wasting prevalence, and 57% reported a higher prevalence of underweight than reported by relevant national surveys.
Conclusion: The prevalence of childhood undernutrition reported by primary studies is often higher than reported by national surveys. Several immediate and underlying determinants influence childhood undernutrition. Future research should incorporate the findings from primary research to develop holistic, multi-strategy approaches to address childhood undernutrition in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Keywords
Under-fives; Stunting; Sub-Saharan Africa; Underweight; Wasting
Background: Despite substantial progress over the last 20 years, undernutrition has remained an alarming global challenge. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the prevalence of stunting in children under five has significantly increased. This study seeks to update the evidence on the prevalence and determinants of childhood undernutrition in this vulnerable region.
Methods: This systematic scoping review was conducted following the 2018 PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Five electronic databases were searched on December 14, 2022, with no date or language restrictions. Primary studies presenting evidence on the prevalence and determinants of infants and children aged six months to five years were included. Data on the prevalence (stunting, wasting and underweight) and determinants of undernutrition were extracted, described, and compared to national survey data.
Results: Fifty-nine publications from 11 countries were included, with most studies conducted in Ethiopia (n=38) and Tanzania (n=7). Stunting prevalence ranged from 8% to 64%, wasting prevalence ranged from 1% to 58%, and the prevalence of underweight ranged from 2% to 63%. The most frequently reported determinants of undernutrition were the child’s age (>24 months), male sex, maternal illiteracy, diarrhoea or illness in the past two weeks, low household socioeconomic status or living in a larger household (>4 members). Overall, 56% of the included studies reported higher stunting prevalence, 60% reported higher wasting prevalence, and 57% reported a higher prevalence of underweight than reported by relevant national surveys.
Conclusion: The prevalence of childhood undernutrition reported by primary studies is often higher than reported by national surveys. Several immediate and underlying determinants influence childhood undernutrition. Future research should incorporate the findings from primary research to develop holistic, multi-strategy approaches to address childhood undernutrition in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Keywords
Under-fives; Stunting; Sub-Saharan Africa; Underweight; Wasting
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-21 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Nutrition Reviews |
| Volume | Vol. 00(0):1–21 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Jan 2025 |
