The COVID-19 pandemic and child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lower reported number of cases and deaths within the pediatric population, indirect impacts on the health of children in Sub-Saharan Africa such as malnutrition are evident. Data on the socioeconomic factors affecting malnutrition in the under-age population of Sub-Saharan Africa brought by the COVID-19 pandemic remain limited. This paper assesses socioeconomic factors of malnutrition in relation with COVID-19 and potential mitigating measures. Methods: A scoping review of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from March 11, 2020, to May 1, 2021, was conducted. The included studies focused on COVID-19, children malnutrition, and Sub-Saharan Africa and adhered to the PRISMA guideline. Results: Among 73 total screened articles, 15 studies filled the inclusion criteria. The identified socioeconomic factors leading to malnutrition in children were reduction in average income or increase in unemployment rate, access to healthcare and food supplements, disrupted food supply chains and increased prices of food products, pauses in humanitarian responses, and reduced access to school-based meals. Potential mitigation measures were food subsidies, food price control measures, the identification of new vulnerable groups and the implementation of financial interventions. Conclusion: Malnutrition amongst Sub-Saharan African children due to COVID-19 is a result of a combination of multiple socioeconomic factors. To stabilize household purchasing power and eventually malnutrition in children in SSA, a combined strategy of initial detection of newly developing vulnerable groups and efficient, rapid financial assistance through mobile phone transfers was suggested. These strategies were proposed in combination with other economical models.

Infection and Social Dislocation: Wellbeing Impacts of COVID-19 on Children and Young People - Perspectives of Rwandan Leaders

“…Levels of anxiety and depression have increased due to massive social upheaval, uncertainty over the future, restrictions on mobility, reduction in quality of life and fear of contracting the disease (Melendez-Torres et al, 2021;Padilla & Bernheim, 2020;Sharpe et al, 2021). Rates of child poverty, food insecurity and violence against women and children have increased, and school closures have resulted in a loss of learning (Division of Communication's Global Content Strategy, 2020; Hope and Homes for Children, 2020; OECD, 2020; Padilla & Bernheim, 2020;Sestito et al, 2021).…”