Title:
Maternal Undernutrition: The Determinants and Interventions in Lusaka, North Western and Western Provinces, Zambia
Authors:
Kakoma, Ernest K.
Year:
2015
PAGE:
xii, 56
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Keywords:
Maternal, Undernutrition, Determinants, Interventions, Zambia, Lusaka Province
Abstract:
Background: Poor maternal nutrition increases the risk of both maternal and child morbidity and mortality. In Zambia, the prevalence of undernutrition among women of reproductive age (WRA) is 10.3%. The determinants and interventions have not been studied. Objective: To explore determinants of maternal undernutrition, practices to address maternal undernutrition and recommend interventions in three provinces of Zambia. Methodology: Literature review was conducted using the 2013 Lancet framework for maternal and child undernutrition to guide the analysis of the determinants of maternal undernutrition. Findings: The determinants particularly affect the two rural provinces of Western and North western compared to more urban Lusaka province. They include high prevalence of poverty, early female adolescent pregnancies which affect education progression. Further, inadequate dietary diversity with high dependence on cereals and starchy roots coupled with low intake of micronutrients during pregnancy, high burden of infectious diseases like malaria in North western Province due to low insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) distribution and high HIV prevalence in Lusaka and Western provinces. Low access to health services especially in rural provinces affects utilisation of services such as family planning, antenatal care and nutrition counselling, deworming and micronutrient supplementation receipt and adherence. Further, low access to sources of improved drinking water and sanitation in rural provinces results in increased risk of diseases, and micronutrient intake remains low due to limited dietary diversity and inadequate policies on nutrition and food fortification as only vitamin A is fortified in sugar and iodine in salt. Some interventions to address maternal undernutrition include iron-folic acid supplementation, deworming and provision of intermittent presumptive treatment of malaria including family planning for WRA. Some of the best practices to addressing maternal undernutrition include community and schools involvement. Conclusion: Maternal undernutrition has myriad of determinants resulting in inadequate dietary intake and increased burden of infections. Recommendations: Multisectoral approach supported by policies on nutrition and food fortification, conditional cash transfer, micronutrient supplementation for adolescent girls and pregnant women, tailored for supplementation for food insecure pregnant women, access to family planning including for adolescents, disease prevention and treatment, improved sources of drinking water and sanitation and research in nutrition and adolescents health.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Health Unit
Country:
Zambia
Region:
Southern Africa
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2015 Kakoma
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
RiW8g52AQP_20161025120002339.pdf