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Interventions to improve the nutritional status of under five children in Ethiopia: a systematic review

Version 2 2024-06-14, 20:49
Version 1 2023-11-21, 03:56
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-14, 20:49 authored by KY Ahmed, FA Ogbo, Teketo TegegneTeketo Tegegne, H Dalton, A Arora, AG Ross
Abstract Objective: To conduct a systematic review of experimental or quasi-experimental studies that aimed to improve the nutritional status of under five years of age children in Ethiopia. Design: Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsychINFO, and Academic Search Database were used to locate peer-reviewed studies, and Google Scholar and Open Dissertation were used to locate grey literatures. All searches were conducted between 2000 and November 2022. Setting: Ethiopia. Participants: Pregnant women and mothers with children aged 0-59 months. Results: Ten cluster randomised controlled trials (RCTs), six quasi-experimental studies and two individual RCTs were included. Out of the identified 18 studies, three studies targeted pregnant mothers. Our findings showed that almost two-thirds of published interventions had no impact on childhood stunting and wasting, and more than half had no impact on underweight. Some behaviour change communication (BCC) interventions, food vouchers, micronutrient supplementation, and quality protein maize improved stunting. Similarly, BCC and fish oil supplementation showed promise in reducing wasting, while BCC and the provision of quality protein maize reduced underweight. Additionally, water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) interventions provided to pregnant mothers and children under two years of age were shown to significantly reduce childhood stunting. Conclusion: Future childhood nutritional interventions in Ethiopia should consider adopting an integrated approach that combines the positive effects of interdependent systems such as BCC, food supplemental programmes (e.g., boosting protein and micronutrients), health interventions (e.g., strengthening maternal and childcare), WaSH and financial initiatives (e.g., monetary support and income schemes).

History

Journal

Public Health Nutrition

Volume

26

Pagination

3147-3161

Location

Cambridge, Eng.

ISSN

1368-9800

eISSN

1475-2727

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

12

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

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