Child Development and Public Health

             Child Development and Public Health: Malnutrition






At every developmental stage, changes in body proportions and primary motor skills mastering are part of biological maturation. These changes are also susceptible to the nutritional status of the individual child. Researchers have shown that the timing of nutritional deficiencies can also significantly affect growth and development. For example, during the fetal stage, folic acid deficiency between 21 and 28 days after conception predisposes the fetus to a congenital malformation called a neural tube defect. The childhood period is also predisposed to dietary deficiencies, especially as the brain undergoes significant structural and cognitive maturation (Graham, 2016).

Nutrition plays a vital role in children’s growth and development, with a healthy diet harmoniously improves physical and mental abilities. So, malnutrition in children is deleterious to the development of children’s physical, cognitive, and psychosocial skills, with multiple “down-the-road” effects in the short-term and long-term. 

Childhood is a critical time in the growth and development of a person, and it is a crucial stage in building their physical and mental abilities.

Therefore, I think it is essential to have a frank, open, and respectful conversation with parents about the importance of child nutrition with healthcare professionals’ help.

Nigeria: Nutrition Profile

During childhood, under-nutrition causes "children to have less energy and less interest in learning, which negatively influences cognitive development and academic performance. Under-nutrition will also affect physical growth and maturation, affecting growth rate, body weight, and ultimately, height" (USAID, 2018).

The consequences of malnutrition should be a significant concern for policymakers in Nigeria, according to USAID (2018). Nigeria has the highest number of children in sub-Saharan Africa under five years who are chronically malnourished. There are more than 11.7 million, according to the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (National Population Commission and ICF International 2014).

Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with almost 186 million people in 2016-UNICEF 2017. Nigeria has a high fertility rate of 5.38 children per woman. The population is growing at an annual rate of 2.6 percent, worsening overcrowded conditions. By 2050, Nigeria’s population is expected to grow to a staggering 440 million, making it the third-most populous country globally, after India and China (Population Reference Bureau 2013). A scarcity of resources and land in rural areas has resulted in Nigeria having one of the world’s highest urban growth rates at 4.1 percent (Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health 2014). USAID report shows that currently, Nigeria ranks 145th out of 157 countries in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Nigeria, 37 percent of children under five years are stunted. The pervasiveness of stunting increases with age, climaxing at 46 percent among children 24–35 months.

Children in rural areas are more likely to be stunted than those in urban areas. The pattern is similar for severe stunting -26 percent in the countryside and 13 percent in metropolitan areas.

The causes of malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria are many-sided, including poor infant and young child feeding practices, contributing to high illness rates. Poor nutrition among children under two years, lack of access to healthcare, water, and sanitation; armed conflict, particularly in the north; irregular rainfall; high unemployment; and poverty also play a significant role, according to the USAID report (2016).

 The USAID report also enumerates the steps being taking by the Nigeria Government to remedy the situation. It talks about Nigeria’s commitment to improving nutrition as outlined in the following documents:

  • National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2013) 
  • National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (2014–2019)  
  • National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Nigeria (2010) 
  • Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy.

 As outlined in the National Policy on Food and Nutrition and National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition, Nigeria has set the following targets between 2014 and 2018:

  • Reduce the number of under-5 children who are stunted by 20 percent.
  • Reduce low birth weight by 15 percent.
  • Ensure no increase in childhood overweight.
  • Reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 10 percent.
  • Reduce anemia in women of reproductive age by 50 percent.
  • Increase exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first six months to at least 50 percent.

Nigeria also put comprehensive legislation in place for implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. The adding of "vitamin A to wheat flour, maize meal, vegetable oil, sugar, iron, zinc, folic acid, B vitamins, niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin to wheat" as required by law. 

All relevant ministries are engaged through the Nutrition Partners Forum, in collaboration with "external partners, including national and international non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, donors, the private sector, and media, to discuss strategy development and decisions relating to funding" nutrition emergencies. 

I am encouraged to know that the Nigerian Government is not resting on its oars but striving to address this anomaly. The USAID report sharpens my focus on where to focus our future resources concerning the preschool nutritional project our foundation (ANOT Foundation) is running to meet school children’s dietary needs.


Further readings:

Graham, J. (2016, November 2). Nutrition and Health in Children and the 

     Role of the Healthcare Worker. Ausmed Education Pty Ltd. 

     https://www.ausmed.com/cpd/articles/nutrition-for-children

Nigeria: Nutrition Profile. (2018). USAID. 

     https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1864/Nigeria-

     Nutrition-Profile-Mar2018-508.pdf

Comments

  1. Myrna ShakirJanuary 23, 2021 at 8:41 PM

    A good nutrition for children is very important for their development. I agree we need to speak about nutrition with others. When he come across families who are dealing with lack of food for their children to assist them with appropriate resources in the community. Families in Nigeria are dealing with a lot of external stressors while trying to adequately provide to their children, which is difficult. This is why, it is so important for global organization to continue to help the impoverished countries. We also have to do our part with making sure these organization have the funding so they can continue fulfilling their goals.

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