Starvation of Children in Nigeria
Alice Jegede Feed My Children Foundation research reveals, why is malnutrition so endemic in Nigeria?
The main reason is malnutrition’s close association with poverty. One of the consequences of poverty is the lack of access to nutritious food, which predisposes people to poor nutrition. Poverty increases the chances of malnutrition. Malnutrition, in turn, traps communities in poverty. Poverty and malnutrition are inextricably linked.
Prior to the emergence of COVID-19, approximately 4 in 10 Nigerians were living in extreme poverty based purely on monetary measures. Post-COVID-19, the cost of living has continued to rise, thereby plunging Nigerians deeper into poverty. But poverty goes beyond monetary measures, it extends to being a multidimensional phenomenon. According to the Multidimensional Poverty Measure, about 47% of Nigerians (98 million people) live in multidimensional poverty. This encompasses the various deprivations experienced by poor people in their daily lives. These include poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, disempowerment, poor quality of work and the threat of violence. Living in areas that are environmentally hazardous is also a contributing factor. These various dimensions of deprivation have an impact on the nutritional status of the population directly and indirectly. The prevalence of malnutrition in Nigeria goes beyond the ability to purchase food. It is ingrained in those structural, cultural and physiological predispositions that hinder Nigerians from considering nutrition as a priority in the light of other challenges. With the increasing level of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, it is expected that malnutrition at all levels will also rise.
Which regions have the worst problem?
Malnutrition varies by region. This means that strategies to reduce malnutrition need to be carefully targeted. Analysis of the world, from experts, straight to your inbox. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demography and Health Survey, malnutrition is largely concentrated in Nigeria’s northern states. The proportion of stunted children is highest in the North-West at 57% and lowest in the South-East at 18%.
By state, stunting is most prevalent in Kebbi at 66%, Jigawa at 64% and Katsina at 61% and these are all North-West states. It is least prevalent in the South-East states of Anambra at 14% and Enugu at 14.8%.
In addition, the proportion of children who are wasted – where a child is too thin for their height – is approximately twice as high in the North-East at 10% and North-West at 9%. In the other zones, the percentage is at 4%-6%. This gap in child malnutrition between northern and southern Nigeria has been constant over time.
What are the consequences?
Malnutrition, in all its forms, imposes unacceptably high costs – direct and indirect – on the nation. It stretches the already thin economy and has important economic consequences at the individual, household and community level.
At the individual level, malnutrition leads to impaired physical development. It has long-term effects on cognitive development, educational performance and economic productivity in adulthood and on maternal reproductive outcomes. Malnutrition also weakens the immune system. It results in a higher risk of severe infectious diseases, including diarrhoea and pneumonia.
At the household level, the economic consequences are the health expenses and the opportunity costs incurred in caring for sick children. The risk of chronic diseases goes up so more money is spent on medication and accessing healthcare services.
Having a huge number of malnourished children could lead to lost investments in human capital associated with preventable child deaths. On top of this, malnourished children often suffer from loss of physical growth and do not to attain their optimal height. There is a body of evidence that shows associations between height and outcomes in the labour market. The World Bank estimates that a 1% loss in adult height due to childhood stunting is associated with a 1.4% loss in economic productivity.
Thus, the economic viability of a country largely depends on its human capital and optimal child nutrition is key to harnessing this.
What interventions are necessary?
Improving child nutrition is key. But this needs a multi-sectoral approach and collaboration from stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
Because childhood malnutrition is inextricably linked to multidimensional poverty, interventions to address malnutrition must be multidimensional. They must address various deprivations experienced by the Nigerian people. Therefore, a commitment from the government at all levels (federal, state and local) is crucial in improving child health in Nigeria. At the individual level, nutrition-based interventions to improve child malnutrition should include: educating mothers and fathers about the need to breastfeed infants within the first hour of life, and exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life introduction of appropriate complementary food accompanying breast milk after six months of age appropriate diet diversity administering iron and vitamin A supplements.
At the household level, ensuring good water, sanitation, and hygiene practice could help reduce infections which result in child malnutrition. While at the community level, supplementary food such as lipid-based nutrient supplements and fortified cereal products should be distributed. There should also be support in the form of food or cash transfers to allow households to buy their own food.
Stunted growth and development Stunted growth is a condition where a child is too short for their age. This condition indicates that the child has not received proper and adequate nutrition over an extended period.
Stunted growth has serious and complex consequences. It affects both physical and cognitive development of the child over the long term. As stunted children grow into adulthood, they are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. This is due to the long-term physiological effects of poor nutrition during critical growth periods. They are more likely to have delayed mental and motor development. This leads to poor school performance and reduced earning potential in adulthood. Adequate nutrition is essential for brain development, particularly in the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to two years of age (24 months). The lack of essential nutrients can lead to delays in mental development.
Malnourished children often suffer from impaired brain development, which affects learning abilities and overall intellectual development, such as memory, attention and problem-solving skills. These children tend to have lower intelligence quotients, decreased attention spans and poorer educational outcomes and attainment. This can hinder their future economic opportunities and perpetuate the cycle of poverty. They may struggle to provide adequate nutrition and opportunities for their own children.
Increased susceptibility to diseases
Severe food poverty predisposes children to malnutrition, which compromises their immune system and makes them more susceptible to infections and diseases. Essential nutrients like vitamins A, C and D and minerals such as zinc and iron are crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system. The lack of these essential nutrients hinders the body’s ability to fight off infections and weakens the body’s defenses. This can lead to more severe and prolonged illnesses, higher hospitalization rates and increased mortality. Common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria, which might be manageable in well-nourished children, can become life-threatening for those who are malnourished.
This increased disease burden further exacerbates malnutrition by impairing nutrient absorption and increasing metabolic demands, leading to greater nutritional deficiencies. For instance, infections like diarrhea and respiratory illnesses can lead to loss of appetite, malabsorption of nutrients, and direct loss of nutrients through vomiting and diarrhea.
Chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis further weaken the body’s ability to utilise nutrients effectively. Additionally, the energy and nutrient demands for combating illness can exceed dietary intake, depleting nutritional reserves and worsening malnutrition. This relationship creates a vicious cycle of poor health where malnutrition weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility to diseases, which in turn exacerbates malnutrition.
Higher mortality rates
Malnourished children are more likely to die from common childhood illnesses compared to their well-nourished peers. Many deaths among malnourished children could be prevented with proper nutrition and timely medical care. The lack of essential nutrients leaves children unable to survive otherwise manageable illnesses. The increased mortality rate among Nigerian malnourished children contributes to overall higher child mortality rates. This undermines public health goals such as those outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Turning the tide
Addressing severe food poverty and child malnutrition in Nigeria requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach by the government. This should include the following: Improving maternal and child nutrition: Ensure adequate nutrition for pregnant women; promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months; and introduce nutritious complementary foods at six months while continuing breastfeeding for two years and beyond. At the policy level, there is a need to provide support for mothers through paid maternity leave and provision of breastfeeding-friendly workplaces. Fortifying foods by adding essential vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed items is equally vital. Enhancing food security: Support small-scale farming, implement food assistance programs, and strengthen economic stability through job creation and social protection.
Providing access to quality healthcare: Offer regular health check-ups, establish community-based malnutrition treatment programs, and invest in healthcare infrastructure. Implementing nutrition-focused educational programs: Educate parents and caregivers on proper nutrition and pro.