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Empirical studies of factors associated with child malnutrition: highlighting the evidence about climate and conflict shocks

Author

Listed:
  • Molly E. Brown

    (University of Maryland)

  • David Backer

    (University of Maryland)

  • Trey Billing

    (University of Maryland)

  • Peter White

    (Auburn University)

  • Kathryn Grace

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Shannon Doocy

    (International Health, Johns Hopkins University)

  • Paul Huth

    (University of Maryland)

Abstract

Children who experience poor nutrition during the first 1000 days of life are more vulnerable to illness and death in the near term, as well as to lower work capacity and productivity as adults. These problems motivate research to identify basic and underlying factors that influence risks of child malnutrition. Based on a structured search of existing literature, we identified 90 studies that used statistical analyses to assess relationships between potential factors and major indicators of child malnutrition: stunting, wasting, and underweight. Our review determined that wasting, a measure of acute malnutrition, is substantially understudied compared to the other indicators. We summarize the evidence about relationships between child malnutrition and numerous factors at the individual, household, region/community, and country levels. Our results identify only select relationships that are statistically significant, with consistent signs, across multiple studies. Among the consistent predictors of child malnutrition are shocks due to variations in climate conditions (as measured with indicators of temperature, rainfall, and vegetation) and violent conflict. Limited research has been conducted on the relationship between violent conflict and wasting. Improved understanding of the variables associated with child malnutrition will aid advances in predictive modeling of the risks and severity of malnutrition crises and enhance the effectiveness of responses by the development and humanitarian communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Molly E. Brown & David Backer & Trey Billing & Peter White & Kathryn Grace & Shannon Doocy & Paul Huth, 2020. "Empirical studies of factors associated with child malnutrition: highlighting the evidence about climate and conflict shocks," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(6), pages 1241-1252, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:12:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-020-01041-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01041-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Backer, David & Billing, Trey, 2024. "Forecasting the prevalence of child acute malnutrition using environmental and conflict conditions as leading indicators," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Ravi Bhavnani & Nina Schlager & Karsten Donnay & Mirko Reul & Laura Schenker & Maxime Stauffer & Tirtha Patel, 2023. "Household behavior and vulnerability to acute malnutrition in Kenya," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Peters, Koen & Fleuren, H.A. & Cruijssen, Frans, 2024. "The Role of Analytics in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger," Other publications TiSEM a228bc07-76f6-4405-b563-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Maryia Bakhtsiyarava & Kathryn Grace, 2021. "Agricultural production diversity and child nutrition in Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(6), pages 1407-1422, December.
    5. Poole, Nigel & Donovan, Jason & Erenstein, Olaf, 2021. "Viewpoint: Agri-nutrition research: Revisiting the contribution of maize and wheat to human nutrition and health," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    6. Rudolfsen, Ida & Bartusevičius, Henrikas & van Leeuwen, Florian & Østby, Gudrun, 2024. "War and food insecurity in Ukraine," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    7. Peters, Koen & Fleuren, H.A. & Cruijssen, Frans, 2024. "The Role of Analytics in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger," Discussion Paper 2024-009, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.

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