STUNTING in some parts of Zambia remains a biggest problem especially for children under the age of five as revealed in the recent study by Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA) which recently conducted the research in three districts in Zambia.
Based on the outcome of the research, IPA has since recommended the use of Small Quantity Lipid Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to families for notable improvements in the health and development of children under five years old.
Stunting levels in Zambia stand at 35 percent among children under the age of five and this is higher than the average within Africa of 31 percent according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2023 report and Zambia Demographic Health Survey of 2018.
The recent research findings conducted by IPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and other stakeholders revealed that Malnutrition is a challenge in Zambia with only 23 percent of children aged six to 23 months consuming a diet that meets the minimum diversity of food groups needed.
This contributes to poor nutritional status where 12 percent of children are under weight and 35 percent of children are stunted.
IPA Senior Research Associate Mpela Chembe said a research involved a total of 2,291 pairs of primary caregivers and their children from Choma, Lusaka and Mansa and was conducted between March 2021 to September 2023.
He said IPA partnered with the Ministry of Health, Boston University in the United States and the University of Base, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in conducting the research whose outcomes could help improve stunting levels in the country.
Mr Chembe explained that during the research IPA and cooperating partners distributed small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) to families in Zambia which overtime led to notable improvements in the health and development of children under five years old.
He said during the research in Choma, Lusaka and Mansa, the odds of children being stunted decreased by 37 per cent.
“The odds of a child having anemia went down by 26 per cent. We recorded improved child development scores, reflecting positive advancements across cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional domains,’’ Mr Chembe said.
IPA has since recommended the use of SQ-LNS supplements to help lessens the cases of stunting in Zambia and any country facing stunting.
“Given that SQ-LNS significantly improved child growth, nutrition, and development outcomes in this study, as well as in several recently published evaluations, IPA recommends their use and scale-up in countries facing high rates of growth faltering and food insecurity,’’ Mr Chembe said.
He said IPA advises further research to determine the cost-effectiveness of SQ-LNS supplementation and to understand how impact may vary based on context, duration of supplementation, and delivery. He said where resources are limited, IPA suggests priority to be given to children with low birth weight or early life growth faltering, as subgroup analysis in this study indicates the SQ-LNS intervention appears to have been particularly impactful among these children.
Stunting, or being too short for one’s age, is a warning signal that a child is at risk of failing to reach their full physical and developmental potential. Stunting is caused by poor nutrition and frequent infections during early life. The consequences of stunting include impaired brain development, poor educational outcomes, reduced earnings in adulthood, and an increased probability of living in poverty. In Zambia, stunting remains a significant problem, impacting 35 per cent of children under the age of five, which is higher than the average within Africa of 31 per cent (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank 2023).
According to Raider Mugode, a nutritionist at the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC), stunting is a chronic condition distinct from wasting, which is caused by starvation or poor diet. To comprehend the causes of stunting, Ms Mugode recommends following the UNICEF perception framework, which categorizes stunting as a form of undernutrition. She explains that undernutrition encompasses three types: wasting, micronutrient deficiency, and underweight, which is a combination of stunting and wasting.
Ms Mugode identifies several factors contributing to stunting, including poor diet, inadequate maternal and child care, subpar environment, and limited access to health services. She notes that while some families may have food, they often lack the variety to provide a balanced diet. The upcoming consumption food survey in Zambia reveals that most households cannot afford animal source food, relying on plant-based options that fail to provide sufficient nutrients and micronutrients.
Ms Mugode highlights that many individuals struggle to maintain a diversified diet due to low income, leading some to sell their food to generate income. Additionally, environmental factors like sanitation, access to clean water, and hygiene in the home can contribute to stunting. She emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues within the first two years of a child’s life, as failure to do so can result in substandard growth and increased likelihood of stunted adults producing stunted children.
Ms Mugode stresses that a good diet alone is insufficient to reduce stunting, and that external contributing factors must be addressed. These include poor diet, environmental conditions, sanitation, and access to clean water, hygiene, and access to health facilities. By tackling these factors, it is possible to mitigate the prevalence of stunting and promote healthy growth and development.
Another practice that has contributed to stunting in Zambia is lack of exclusive breastfeeding by most mothers.
“More than 70 percent of children in Zambia are not exclusively breastfed, most babies are exposed with others feeds early which might be contaminated with other pathogens,’’ Ms Mugode said.
She explained that the duration of breastfeeding is 20 to 24 months as breastfeeding is one of the major sources of nutrients,
The other recommendation Ms Magode made is that women in productive age should always have balanced diet to avoid having stunted babies and inter-generational circle.
