TY - CHAP

T1 - Psychosocial aspects of malnutrition among African children

T2 - antecedents, consequences, and interventions

AU - Abubakar, Amina

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Childhood malnutrition imposes a heavy burden on already vulnerable communities. Malnutrition, both in the form of undernutrition and overnutrition, has been associated with an elevated risk of mortality, morbidity, and cognitive and social-emotional impairment. Although undernutrition traditionally has been a major risk factor in developing countries, overnutrition is increasingly becoming a burden with more children experiencing the adverse effects of overweight. Malnutrition not only leads to adverse psychosocial outcomes but also has been associated with a host of psychosocial antecedents. This current chapter attempts to synthesize existing empirical evidence from Africa so as to identify research gaps and potentially useful points of intervention. The reviewed literature indicates that, other than economic factors which limit access to food, psychosocial factors such as maternal depression, maternal (un)employment, and stimulation provided at home impact children’s nutritional status. Limited research evidence exists on antecedents of overnutrition in the African context; however, eating habits, degree of physical activity, socioeconomic status, and area of residence seem to contribute to the development of overnutrition. Interventions that focus on both biomedical (i.e. nutritional supplementation and prevention of ill health) and psychosocial aspects seem to be the most promising in tackling undernutrition. Similarly, a broad-based approach, which focuses on changing eating habits and encouraging physical activities, holds promise in halting current trends in obesity. In conclusion, this review further emphasizes the crucial role played by psychosocial factors in the emergence of childhood malnutrition.

AB - Childhood malnutrition imposes a heavy burden on already vulnerable communities. Malnutrition, both in the form of undernutrition and overnutrition, has been associated with an elevated risk of mortality, morbidity, and cognitive and social-emotional impairment. Although undernutrition traditionally has been a major risk factor in developing countries, overnutrition is increasingly becoming a burden with more children experiencing the adverse effects of overweight. Malnutrition not only leads to adverse psychosocial outcomes but also has been associated with a host of psychosocial antecedents. This current chapter attempts to synthesize existing empirical evidence from Africa so as to identify research gaps and potentially useful points of intervention. The reviewed literature indicates that, other than economic factors which limit access to food, psychosocial factors such as maternal depression, maternal (un)employment, and stimulation provided at home impact children’s nutritional status. Limited research evidence exists on antecedents of overnutrition in the African context; however, eating habits, degree of physical activity, socioeconomic status, and area of residence seem to contribute to the development of overnutrition. Interventions that focus on both biomedical (i.e. nutritional supplementation and prevention of ill health) and psychosocial aspects seem to be the most promising in tackling undernutrition. Similarly, a broad-based approach, which focuses on changing eating habits and encouraging physical activities, holds promise in halting current trends in obesity. In conclusion, this review further emphasizes the crucial role played by psychosocial factors in the emergence of childhood malnutrition.

U2 - 10.1007/978-1-4614-6834-9_9

DO - 10.1007/978-1-4614-6834-9_9

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9781461468332

T3 - Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology

SP - 181

EP - 202

BT - Neuropsychology in the African context

A2 - Boivin, Michael J.

A2 - Giordani, Bruno

PB - Springer

CY - New York

ER -