What would it take to prevent stunted growth in children in sub-Saharan Africa?

Abstract

There is increasing agreement among the nutrition community about the use of length/ height-for-age as the indicator to monitor the long-term impact of chronic nutritional deficiencies. Stunting, an indicator of linear growth failure, has both long-and short-term consequences affecting growth and development and adult work potential. The number of stunted children in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase by 2025 if the current trends remain. Stunting among African children peaks during the complementary feeding period, which coincides with the period when children are no longer on exclusive breastfeeding and infections are frequent. Addressing stunting has become the focus of global efforts. The World Health Assembly in 2012 set a 40 % reduction in the number of stunted children by 2025. To effectively address the issues of stunting in sub-Saharan Africa is it appropriate to examine the issue of what it takes. The WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) conducted in several regions of the world, including Africa has lessons on what it would take to prevent in African children. The children in the MGRS had good socioeconomic background characteristics reflected by years of maternal education and availability of basic amenities, such as potable water and sanitary conditions. The prescription of exclusive breastfeeding, high-quality diversified diets and attention to care were critical factors contributing to healthy growth for the African children. Preventing stunting in sub-Saharan Africa is possible. It requires governments to put in place policies that would create the conducive environment needed. The complex and multiple causes of stunting offer the opportunity to address stunting in a multisectoral and within a food systems approach. The global resolve to make food systems deliver on healthy diet requires all stakeholders to work together to achieve the global goal of reducing stunting. This review highlights the key elements contributing to adequate growth in the Africa cohort of the WHO-MGRS and how these provide lessons for addressing stunting in children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Factors Associated with Stunting among Children Aged 0 to 59 Months from the Central Region of Mozambique

“…Undernutrition is a major public health problem that increases the global health burden of premature mortality and morbidities during childhood [1,2]. It accounts for 45% of all deaths in children under five years of age.…”

Factors affecting stunting among under-five children in Bangladesh

“…Undernutrition, more than anything, is considered as the key factor responsible for stunting, as it accounts for one in every three deaths of children under five years of age around the world [2]. Today, more than two million children die due to undernutrition, making it a major health concern for children [ [3][4][5]. Stunting is a chronic form of undernutrition, and a significant portion of the population in developing countries suffer from it during early childhood [6].…”

An assessment of the association between antenatal care and child malnutrition in Bangladesh

“…Studies suggest that child malnutrition is still one of the major health concerns around the world [3][4][5]. There are many regions in developing countries that are still below the poverty line, or more specifically, the people living in those areas are the poorest within the country.…”