Effectiveness of teacher-based nutrition interventions in addressing malnutrition among sub-Saharan children

  • Authors

    • Jonathan Nsamba Uganda Martyrs University
    2021-11-04
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijh.v8i1.31804
  • Malnutrition, Sub-Saharan Africa, School, Teachers.

  • Abstract

    Introduction: To address the high malnutrition rates in Sub Saharan Africa, most programs addressing malnutrition have continuously been streamlined through the health system, yet this has not yielded results as expected. On the other hand, the education sector has shown an immense capacity to address some challenges, such as eliminating short-term hunger through School feeding programs. Yet, little attention has been given to teachers as far as implementing health and nutrition interventions. With an increased school enrolment rate in Sub Saharan Africa, teachers present huge potential as change agents.

    Objectives: To consolidate evidence about the effectiveness of teacher-based interventions in addressing malnutrition in Sub- Saharan Africa.

    Methods: A search strategy through online databases including EBSCO, PubMed, BASE, Cochrane, Google Scholar, LILACS, Project MUSE, TRIP Database, and Emerald Insight gave rise to 95,734 studies. These were identified and taken through a series of screening stages such that the most eligible were included to answer the review question.

    Results: Three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results showed that teacher-based interventions such as school lunch, deworming, vitamin A supplementation, and nutrition education positively affect the nutrition status of primary school children, school attendances, are sustainable and reach many children.

    Conclusion: There is a need to actively involve teachers in the primordial and primary prevention stages of malnutrition through strengthening nutrition education, supplementary programs and school gardening. Teachers have an essential role to play in the fight against Malnutrition in Sub Saharan Africa.

     

     

  • References

    1. [1] World Health Organization. Essential nutrition actions: improving maternal, newborn, infant and young child health and nutrition [Internet]. World Health Organization; 2013 [cited 2021 Sep 21]. xi, 100 p. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/84409

      [2] Ruel MT, Alderman H, Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group. Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: how can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition? Lancet Lond Engl. 2013 Aug 10;382(9891):536–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60843-0.

      [3] FAO. Regional Overview of Food Insecurity Africa. 2015;37.

      [4] Bain LE, Awah PK, Geraldine N, Kindong NP, Sigal Y, Bernard N, et al. Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa: burden, causes and prospects. Pan Afr Med J. 2013; 15:120. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.15.120.2535.

      [5] Ejaz MS, Latif N. Stunting and micronutrient deficiencies in malnourished children. JPMA J Pak Med Assoc. 2010 Jul;60(7):543–7.

      [6] Fanzo J. The Nutrition Challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. undefined [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2021 Sep 21]; Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Nutrition-Challenge-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa-Fanzo/51aefd4c04af42ebd9f15a562b258cf622088807

      [7] Kulwa KBM, Verstraeten R, Bouckaert KP, Mamiro PS, Kolsteren PW, Lachat C. Effectiveness of a nutrition education package in improving feeding practices, dietary adequacy and growth of infants and young children in rural Tanzania: rationale, design and methods of a cluster randomised trial. BMC Public Health. 2014 Oct 16; 14:1077. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1077.

      [8] Ute I. Enhancing Academic Development through School Health Education and Promotion. Int J Educ Res Inf Sci. 2015 Jan 5;1(4):48.

      [9] Androutsos O, Katsarou C, Payr A, Birnbaum J, Geyer C, Wildgruber A, et al. Designing and implementing teachers’ training sessions in a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to prevent obesity in early childhood. The ToyBox-study. Obes Rev Off J Int Assoc Study Obes. 2014 Aug;15 Suppl 3:48–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12182.

      [10] Glynn L. A critical appraisal tool for library and information research. Libr Hi Tech. 2006; https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610692154.

      [11] Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ, et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomised clinical trials: is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials. 1996 Feb;17(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-2456(95)00134-4.

      [12] Mbithe D, Kimiywe J, Waudo J, Orodho J. Promotion of nutrition education interventions in rural and urban primary schools in Machakos district, Kenya. undefined [Internet]. 2008 [cited 2021 Sep 21]; Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/PROMOTION-OF-NUTRITION-EDUCATION-INTERVENTIONS-IN-Mbithe-Kimiywe/1a5fb87c63b6fa310568285d8c3939fd0251d809

      [13] Eboh LO, Boye TE. Nutrition Knowledge and Food Choices of Primary School Pupils in the.

      [14] Steyn NP, de Villiers A, Gwebushe N, Draper CE, Hill J, de Waal M, et al. Did HealthKick, a randomised controlled trial primary school nutrition intervention improve dietary quality of children in low-income settings in South Africa? BMC Public Health. 2015 Sep 23; 15:948. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2282-4.

      [15] Neervoort F, von Rosenstiel I, Bongers K, Demetriades M, Shacola M, Wolffers I. Effect of a school feeding programme on nutritional status and anaemia in an urban slum: a preliminary evaluation in Kenya. J Trop Pediatr. 2013 Jun;59(3):165–74. https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fms070.

      [16] Oosthuizen D, Oldewage-Theron W, Napier C. The impact of a nutrition programme on the dietary intake patterns of primary school children. South Afr J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jan 1;24(2):75–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2011.11734354.

      [17] Tadayon Nabavi R. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory & Social Cognitive Learning Theory. 2012 Jan 1. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0073.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Nsamba, J. (2021). Effectiveness of teacher-based nutrition interventions in addressing malnutrition among sub-Saharan children. International Journal of Health, 8(1), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijh.v8i1.31804

    Received date: 2021-09-22

    Accepted date: 2021-10-19

    Published date: 2021-11-04