IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i21p7973-d437270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Review of Selected Studies on the Factors Associated with the Nutrition Status of Children Under the Age of Five Years in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Mbalenhle Mkhize

    (Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa)

  • Melusi Sibanda

    (Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa)

Abstract

Malnutrition is a considerable contributor to child mortality and morbidity. Child malnutrition further affects the country’s economic development. Child malnutrition in South Africa is persistent, continuing to be an alarming burden. The nutritional status of kids under the age of five years is a critical indicator of the country’s economic condition and health status. An understanding of the influencers of the nutritional status of children can act as a catalyst in combatting all forms of malnutrition. The purpose of this paper was to review selected studies concerning the factors that affect the nutritional status of children in South Africa. Studies were selected from electronic databases, which were PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Sabinet African Journals, and the University of Zululand library catalog. The keywords that were used to search studies and articles from the selected database were: risk factors, child nutritional status, children under the age of five years, South Africa, malnutrition, underweight, stunted, wasting, and over-nutrition. Studies and surveys published from 2010–2019 that reported on the factors influencing the nutritional status of children under the age of five years were included in this review. Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria of the study. The 27 articles were made up of 21 cross-sectional articles and six longitudinal articles. The finding from this review highlights that there is a lack of studies conducted in urban areas. The results show that the nutritional status of children is affected by several factors. These include household food insecurity, low household income, illiterate caregivers, unemployment, inadequate dietary intake, low birth weight, consumption of monotonous diets, poor caregiver’s nutritional knowledge, poor access to water and sanitation, poor weaning practices, age of the caregiver, and demographic characteristics of a child (age and gender). It is critical to have an understanding of the factors that affect the nutritional status of children. Such knowledge can significantly contribute to formulating policies that can enhance nutrition security and the country’s economy. Moreover, insights into strategic interventions to eradicate all forms of malnutrition can be made.

Suggested Citation

  • Mbalenhle Mkhize & Melusi Sibanda, 2020. "A Review of Selected Studies on the Factors Associated with the Nutrition Status of Children Under the Age of Five Years in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-26, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:7973-:d:437270
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/7973/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/7973/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pérez-Moreno, Salvador & Blanco-Arana, María C. & Bárcena-Martín, Elena, 2016. "Economic cycles and child mortality: A cross-national study of the least developed countries," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 14-23.
    2. Sithandiwe Ntila & Muthulisi Siwela & Unathi Kolanisi & Hafiz Abdelgadir & Ashwell Ndhlala, 2017. "An Assessment of the Food and Nutrition Security Status of Weaned 7–12 Months Old Children in Rural and Peri-Urban Communities of Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Sinha, Aakanksha & McRoy, Ruth G. & Berkman, Barbara & Sutherland, Melissa, 2017. "Drivers of change: Examining the effects of gender equality on child nutrition," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 203-212.
    4. Perpetua Modjadji & Sphiwe Madiba, 2019. "Childhood Undernutrition and Its Predictors in a Rural Health and Demographic Surveillance System Site in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    5. Brauner-Otto, Sarah & Baird, Sarah & Ghimire, Dirgha, 2019. "Maternal employment and child health in Nepal: The importance of job type and timing across the child's first five years," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 94-105.
    6. Janneke Pieters & Samantha Rawlings, 2020. "Parental unemployment and child health in China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 207-237, March.
    7. Robert Ugochukwu Onyeneke & Chinyere Augusta Nwajiuba & Christiana Ogonna Igberi & Mark Umunna Amadi & Francis Chidi Anosike & Anthony Oko-Isu & Jane Munonye & Christian Uwadoka & Adewale Iyaniwura Ad, 2019. "Impacts of Caregivers’ Nutrition Knowledge and Food Market Accessibility on Preschool Children’s Dietary Diversity in Remote Communities in Southeast Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Marianne Page & Jessamyn Schaller & David Simon, 2019. "The Effects of Aggregate and Gender-Specific Labor Demand Shocks on Child Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(1), pages 37-78.
    9. Jason M Nagata & James Gippetti & Stefan Wager & Alejandro Chavez & Paul H Wise, 2016. "Prevalence and Predictors of Malnutrition among Guatemalan Children at 2 Years of Age," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-13, November.
    10. Sphiwe Madiba & Paul Kiprono Chelule & Mathildah Mpata Mokgatle, 2019. "Attending Informal Preschools and Daycare Centers Is a Risk Factor for Underweight, Stunting and Wasting in Children under the Age of Five Years in Underprivileged Communities in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    11. Aizawa, Toshiaki, 2019. "Ex-ante Inequality of Opportunity in Child Malnutrition: New Evidence from Ten Developing Countries in Asia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 144-161.
    12. Meimei Ji & Yefu Zhang & Jiaojiao Zou & Tong Yuan & Amber Tang & Jing Deng & Lina Yang & Mingzhi Li & Jihua Chen & Hong Qin & Qian Lin, 2017. "Study on the Status of Health Service Utilization among Caregivers of Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Baseline Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-11, August.
    13. Ahmed Shoukry Rashad & Mesbah Fathy Sharaf, 2019. "Does maternal employment affect child nutrition status? New evidence from Egypt," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(1), pages 48-62, January.
    14. Lauren C. Manzione & Heidi Kriser & Emily G. Gamboa & Curtis M. Hanson & Generose Mulokozi & Osiah Mwaipape & Taylor H. Hoj & Mary Linehan & Scott Torres & P. Cougar Hall & Josh H. West & Benjamin T. , 2019. "Maternal Employment Status and Minimum Meal Frequency in Children 6-23 Months in Tanzania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-10, March.
    15. Emmanuel Skoufias & Katja Vinha & Ryoko Sato, 2019. "All Hands on Deck," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 32037, December.
    16. Tara Templin & Tiago Cravo Oliveira Hashiguchi & Blake Thomson & Joseph Dieleman & Eran Bendavid, 2019. "The overweight and obesity transition from the wealthy to the poor in low- and middle-income countries: A survey of household data from 103 countries," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-15, November.
    17. Oluwalana, E.O.A. & Shittu, A.M. & Olaomi, O.O., 2017. "Determinants of Nutritional Status of Preschool Children of farming Households in Southern Parts of Nigeria," 2017 Annual NAAE Conference, October 16-19, Abeokuta, Nigeria 288333, Nigerian Association of Agricultural Economists.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Clarke, P & Zuma, MK & Tambe, A & Steenkamp, L & Mbhenyane, XG, 2023. "Contribution Of Dietary Patterns And Dietary Diversity To The Nutritional Status Of Children Under Five Years In Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, South Africa," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 23(9), September.
    2. Phillips Edomwonyi Obasohan & Stephen J. Walters & Richard Jacques & Khaled Khatab, 2021. "A Scoping Review of Selected Studies on Predictor Variables Associated with the Malaria Status among Children under Five Years in Sub-Saharan Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Matshidiso Sello & Sunday A. Adedini & Clifford Odimegwu & Rebaone Petlele & Talent Tapera, 2023. "The Relationship between Childcare-Giving Arrangements and Children’s Malnutrition Status in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Pamela Clarke & Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma & Ayuk Betrand Tambe & Liana Steenkamp & Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane, 2021. "Caregivers’ Knowledge and Food Accessibility Contributes to Childhood Malnutrition: A Case Study of Dora Nginza Hospital, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-18, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mörk, Eva & Sjögren, Anna & Svaleryd, Helena, 2020. "Consequences of parental job loss on the family environment and on human capital formation-Evidence from workplace closures," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    2. Esther Gehrke & Friederike Lenel & Claudia Schupp, 2023. "COVID-19 Crisis, Economic Hardships, and Schooling Outcomes," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 18(3), pages 522-546, Summer.
    3. Ervin Dervisevic & Maria C. Lo Bue & Elizaveta Perova, 2021. "Maternal employment and children's outcomes: Evidence from Indonesia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-186, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Eva Maria Mörk & Anna Sjögren & Helena Svaleryd, 2019. "Consequences of Parental Job Loss on the Family Environment and on Human Capital Formation - Evidence from Plant Closures," CESifo Working Paper Series 7811, CESifo.
    5. Cristina Bellés‐Obrero & Sergi Jiménez‐Martín & Judit Vall‐Castello, 2016. "Bad Times, Slimmer Children?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(S2), pages 93-112, November.
    6. McInnis, Nicardo, 2023. "Long-term health effects of childhood parental income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    7. Janneke Pieters & Samantha Rawlings, 2020. "Parental unemployment and child health in China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 207-237, March.
    8. Marcelo Cardona & Joseph Millward & Alison Gemmill & Katelyn Jison Yoo & David M Bishai, 2022. "Estimated impact of the 2020 economic downturn on under-5 mortality for 129 countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-12, February.
    9. Pérez-Mesa, David & Marrero, Gustavo A. & Darias-Curvo, Sara, 2021. "Child health inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 108801, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Rothstein, Jessica D. & Caulfield, Laura E. & Broaddus-Shea, Elena T. & Muschelli, John & Gilman, Robert H. & Winch, Peter J., 2020. "“The doctor said formula would help me”: Health sector influences on use of infant formula in peri-urban Lima, Peru," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    11. De, Prabal K. & Thamarapani, Dhanushka, 2022. "Impacts of negative shocks on wellbeing and aspirations – Evidence from an earthquake," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    12. Gathmann, Christina & Huttunen, Kristiina & Jernström, Laura & Sääksvuori, Lauri & Stitzing, Robin, 2020. "In Sickness and in Health: Job Displacement and Health. Spillovers in Couples," Working Papers 133, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    13. Natascia Rinaldo & Stefania Toselli & Emanuela Gualdi-Russo & Meriem Khyatti & Amina Gihbid & Luciana Zaccagni, 2022. "Anthropometric Assessment of General and Central Obesity in Urban Moroccan Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, June.
    14. Migbaru A. Workneh, 2020. "Gender Inequality, Governance, and Poverty in Sub‐Saharan Africa," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), pages 150-174, June.
    15. Ubaldi, Michele & Picchio, Matteo, 2023. "Intergenerational scars: The impact of parental unemployment on individual health later in life," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1271, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    16. Treleaven, Emily, 2023. "The relationship between extended kin resources and children's healthcare utilization: An analysis of family networks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    17. Acton, Riley & Khafaji-King, Jo Al & Smith, Austin C., 2023. "Suspended from Work and School? Impacts of Layoff Events and Unemployment Insurance on Student Disciplinary Incidence," IZA Discussion Papers 16423, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Nathalie Mathieu‐Bolh, 2022. "The elusive link between income and obesity," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 935-968, September.
    19. Melisa Bubonya & Deborah A. Cobb-Clark & Daniel Christensen & Sarah E. Johnson & Stephen R. Zubrick, 2019. "The Great Recession and Children’s Mental Health in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    20. Martínez-Jiménez, Mario, 2023. "Parental nonemployment in childhood and children’s health later in life," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:7973-:d:437270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.