Evaluation of food and nutrition security status of Nigeria preschool children towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 1,2,3 - A review

Abstract

Child nutrition is essential to any country's food and nutrition security status. It goes beyond food security to encompass all the components of child well-being and cognitive development. It includes infant and young child feeding practices, care practices, and hygiene. Africa accounts for the highest prevalence of child malnutrition and mortality worldwide. The complexity and interconnectedness of the components of child nutrition in developing countries are yet to be well conceptualized. Due to a high poverty rate, economic shock, and conflicts in many sub-Sahara countries like Nigeria. Nigeria, the most populated country in this region, records a high prevalence of child malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality. High poverty, poor policies, poor dietary intake, and care practices among households have become a significant concern and a public health issue, especially as the country navigates toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the Africa agenda 2063. This review brings home the contributions of the multidimensional drivers of child nutrition to Nigerian children's overall health outcomes and food security status. In addition, it proffers possible solutions to these challenges to ensure the attainment of both the SDGs and Africa agenda indicators that address hunger, poverty, and the overall well-being of children. The study also emphasizes the importance of optimal nutrition to ensure that children reach their full potential, reduce the risk of childhood illness and chronic diseases in adulthood, and ultimately contribute significantly to the nation's labour force, productivity, and gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, the study explores available online resources, peer-reviewed articles, books, and relevant reports from official websites that identify the drivers of children’s food and nutrition security status from Nigeria's perspective. Overall, in Nigeria, most preschool children do not consume sufficiently safe and nutritious diets for optimal growth and development; hence, they are just surviving but not thriving. Key words: Childhood, nutrition, preschool, components, pandemic, children, SDGs, Nigeria

The utilization of amaranthus leaf powder to supplement ujeqe (steamed bread) wheat flour for the alleviation of food and nutrition insecurity in Empangeni South Africa.

“…The absence of balanced diets is exhibited in various forms of malnutrition which encompass undernutrition and overnutrition and is known as the triple burden of malnutrition; the coexistence of undernutrition (shown by wasting and stunting), micronutrient deficiencies (often regarded as hidden hunger), and overnutrition (overweight and obesity) (Omachi et al, 2022).…”

“…Several underlying causes of malnutrition in resourced and under-resourced countries, including South Africa, are associated with poverty as the leading cause. A high proportion of poverty has been reported in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) (Govender et al, 2017;Omachi et al, 2022). An evaluation of food and nutrition insecurity of households in some selected rural communities in KZN, South Africa, showed that about 47% to 53% of black South Africans are disadvantaged (Govender et al, 2017).…”

“…An evaluation of food and nutrition insecurity of households in some selected rural communities in KZN, South Africa, showed that about 47% to 53% of black South Africans are disadvantaged (Govender et al, 2017). Consequently, it is reported that such households are at a high risk of malnutrition as they cannot afford a balanced diet (Omachi et al, 2022). In attempts to improve the food and nutrition security of poor rural household, several strategies such as biofortification and promotion of underutilised crops that are nutrient-dense have been proposed to improve dietary diversity and balanced diets (Ofori et al, 2022) However information regarding the supplementation of Ujeqe with underutilised indigenous the leafy vegetable Amaranthus is scarce and has not been reported.…”

“…An inadequate diet and persistence of calorie deficiency can expose an individual to nutrient deficiency diseases which are preventable with adequate and safe nutrition Omachi et al, 2022). Food and nutrition insecurity has been defined as the absence of adequate nutrients, a significant challenge (malnutrition) that is ravaging many ppeople'slives, especially among the rural population of many developing countries .…”