سلسله همایش های بین المللی کرامت انسانی

صفحه اصلی / سومین کنگره بین المللی حقوق سلامت ( حقوق تغذیه و امنیت غذایی )

The Role of Maternal Education and Nutritional Supplementation in Improving Growth of Children Aged Under Five Years: Strategies to Reduce Malnutrition

نویسندگان :

Taha Zeraati¹ Raha Rivaz² Zahra Khorasanchi³

1- دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مشهد 2- دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مشهد 3- دانشگاه علوم پزشکی مشهد

کلمات کلیدی :

Maternal education،Nutritional supplementation،Child growth،Undernutrition،Children under five،Nutrition intervention

چکیده :

Background and Purpose: Malnutrition remains a critical global health issue, particularly affecting children under five years of age. Maternal education and nutritional supplementation are pivotal factors influencing child growth and nutritional status. This review aims to synthesize evidence on the role of maternal education and nutritional supplements in improving growth and nutritional outcomes among children under five. Methods: A comprehensive review of key studies published between 2016 and 2023 was conducted, encompassing systematic reviews, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials. These studies evaluated the impact of maternal nutrition education and supplementation interventions on child anthropometric measures and nutritional status across diverse low- and middle-income settings. Data on maternal knowledge improvement, child growth indicators (weight, height, stunting, wasting), and supplementation effects were extracted and synthesized. Findings: Nutrition education significantly enhanced maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (p < 0.001), resulting in improved child nutritional outcomes. One meta-analysis reported an average increase in child birth weight of 0.26 kg (β = 0.257, p < 0.001) following maternal nutrition education. Supplementation with nutrient-dense foods such as Wawamum (50 g daily) reduced stunting risk by 9% (RR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.88–0.94, p < 0.001) and wasting by 22% (RR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.67–0.92, p = 0.004). Maternal nutritional knowledge independently correlated with better child weight-for-age scores in a Ghanaian cohort. Additionally, higher maternal education was associated with increases in child weight-for-age (MD 0.398, 95% CI 0.301–0.496) and height-for-age (MD 0.388, 95% CI 0.102–0.673) in low- and middle-income countries. Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF) improved anthropometric outcomes by 0.38 SD (95% CI 0.10–0.67, p = 0.01) and increased recovery rates by 11% compared to corn–soy blends. Conclusions: Maternal nutrition education and supplementation are effective strategies to enhance child growth and reduce malnutrition in children under five, particularly in resource-limited settings. The impact of maternal education on child nutritional status is context-dependent but consistently beneficial when combined with targeted nutritional interventions. Integrating education with nutrient supplementation programs should be prioritized to combat childhood stunting and wasting globally.