What is Malnutrition? Insights and Strategies on How to Combat Malnutrition in Nigeria for a Healthier Future

Amidst the current economic quagmire dealing with Nigerians, malnutrition gradually took a front seat row and remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges, affecting millions of children, women, and adults across the nation.

Addressing this complicated issue requires a comprehensive approach that tackles both immediate nutritional needs and the underlying causes.

As dieticians who firmly believe that food is medicine, we will today in this article explore the current state of malnutrition in Nigeria, its root causes, and effective strategies to combat it, providing a roadmap for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities to ensure a healthier future for all Nigerians.

What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition occurs when an individual’s diet does not provide the necessary nutrients for growth, maintenance, and overall health. It manifests in two primary forms:

• Undernutrition: Insufficient intake of essential nutrients, leading to conditions like stunting, wasting, and underweight.
• Overnutrition: Excessive intake of certain nutrients, often resulting in obesity and related non-communicable diseases caused by poor dieting.

Current Malnutrition Statistics in Nigeria

As of 2023, Nigeria faces significant malnutrition challenges:

• Child Malnutrition:
  • Stunting: 37% of children under five are stunted, indicating chronic undernutrition.
  • Wasting: 7% of children under five are wasted, reflecting acute undernutrition.
  • Underweight: 22% of children under five are underweight.
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies: High prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and vitamin A deficiency among children.
• Maternal Malnutrition:
  • Undernutrition: 29% of women of reproductive age are undernourished.
  • Micronutrient Deficiencies: Significant rates of iron and folate deficiencies among pregnant women.
• Adult Malnutrition:
  • Undernutrition: Predominantly in rural and conflict-affected areas.
  • Overnutrition: Rising obesity rates in urban centers due to lifestyle changes.

Root Causes of Malnutrition in Nigeria

1. Food Insecurity

Limited access to sufficient and nutritious food is a major driver of malnutrition. Factors contributing to food insecurity include poverty, conflict, and climate-related challenges that disrupt food production and distribution.

2. Poor Dietary Practices

A lack of knowledge about balanced diets and healthy eating habits leads to inadequate nutrient intake. Diets often lack diversity, relying heavily on staple foods with limited micronutrient content.

3. Healthcare Access

Inadequate access to healthcare services hampers the detection and treatment of malnutrition. Chronic diseases and infections further exacerbate nutritional deficiencies by increasing nutrient requirements and impairing absorption.

4. Poor Maternal and Child Health Care

Malnutrition in mothers directly affects their children, leading to low birth weights and increased infant mortality. Poor maternal nutrition also impacts cognitive and physical development in children.

5. Inadequate Sanitation and Clean Water

Lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation increases the risk of infections and diseases that impair nutrient absorption, particularly in children.

6. Economic Instability

Economic downturns and unemployment reduce household incomes, limiting the ability to purchase nutritious foods and access healthcare services.

Effective Strategies to Combat Malnutrition

Addressing malnutrition in Nigeria requires a multi-sectoral approach involving government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), communities, and international partners. Here are key strategies to combat malnutrition effectively:

1. Promote Nutrition Education and Awareness

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Utilize media platforms, schools, and community outreach programs to educate the public about the importance of balanced diets, proper infant feeding practices, and healthy eating habits.
• School Programs: Integrate nutrition education into school curricula to instill healthy eating behaviors from an early age.

2. Improve Food Security and Access to Nutritious Foods

• Agricultural Development: Support local farmers with access to improved seeds, fertilizers, and farming technologies to enhance food production, especially nutrient-rich crops.
• Food Fortification: Implement mandatory fortification of staple foods like flour, salt, and oil with essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A.
• Social Safety Nets: Expand programs like food assistance and cash transfers to ensure vulnerable households can afford adequate and nutritious food.

3. Enhance Maternal and Child Nutrition

• Breastfeeding Promotion: Encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding up to two years and beyond. Provide lactation support to new mothers.
• Micronutrient Supplementation: Distribute supplements such as vitamin A, iron, and folic acid to pregnant women and children under five to prevent deficiencies.
• Growth Monitoring and Counseling: Regularly monitor children’s growth and provide caregivers with guidance on appropriate nutrition and feeding practices.

4. Address Underlying Health Issues

• Improve Healthcare Access: Strengthen healthcare infrastructure to ensure early detection and treatment of malnutrition and related health conditions. Train community health workers to identify and manage malnutrition.
• Immunization and Disease Control: Ensure children receive routine immunizations and treatments for common illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia that contribute to malnutrition.
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Enhance access to clean water and sanitation facilities to reduce infections and improve nutrient absorption.

5. Empower Women and Improve Maternal Health

• Maternal Nutrition Programs: Provide comprehensive nutrition services to pregnant and lactating women, including access to balanced diets and supplements.
• Women’s Empowerment: Educate and empower women through access to education and financial resources, enabling them to make informed dietary decisions for their families.

6. Support Livelihoods and Economic Growth

• Income Generation Programs: Promote vocational training and support small businesses, particularly in rural areas, to increase household incomes and improve access to nutritious foods.
• Strengthen Food Markets: Invest in infrastructure such as roads and storage facilities to reduce food waste and ensure the distribution of fresh, nutritious foods across all regions.

7. Policy Development and Implementation

• National Nutrition Policies: Develop and enforce comprehensive national policies and action plans aimed at combating malnutrition, with clear targets and strategies.
• Multi-sectoral Collaboration: Foster collaboration between sectors like health, agriculture, education, and social protection to create integrated solutions addressing malnutrition’s root causes.

8. Emergency Nutrition Interventions

• Response to Conflict and Displacement: Provide emergency nutrition support, including therapeutic feeding programs, to populations affected by conflict, displacement, or natural disasters.
• Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF): Distribute RUTF to treat severe acute malnutrition in children, especially in high-risk areas.

9. Monitor and Evaluate Progress

• Data Collection and Analysis: Implement robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track nutrition status and program effectiveness, identifying gaps and informing improvements.
• Community Involvement: Engage local communities in monitoring nutrition programs and providing feedback to ensure interventions are tailored to their specific needs.

10. Promote Diverse Diets

• Dietary Diversity: Encourage the consumption of a variety of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and animal-sourced foods, to enhance diet quality.
• Local Food Sources: Promote the use of locally available, nutrient-rich foods to reduce dependence on imported foods and support local agriculture.

Regional Focus: Addressing Disparities

Malnutrition rates vary across Nigeria’s regions, with northern states generally experiencing higher rates of child stunting and underweight compared to southern regions. Urban areas face a dual burden of malnutrition, with both undernutrition and rising obesity rates, while rural areas primarily contend with undernutrition and food insecurity. Tailored interventions that consider regional disparities are essential for effective malnutrition reduction.

Conclusion

Combating malnutrition in Nigeria is a complex but achievable goal that requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors.

Through promoting nutrition education, improving food security, enhancing maternal and child health, addressing underlying health issues, empowering women, supporting economic growth, developing robust policies, implementing emergency interventions, monitoring progress, and promoting diverse diets, Nigeria can make significant strides toward eradicating malnutrition.

These strategies, supported by government initiatives, international partnerships, and community involvement, will pave the way for a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.

References:

• Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)
• UNICEF Nigeria Reports
• World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria
• Ministry of Health, Nigeria