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

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 ۲۰۱۶ and ۲۰۲۳ 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 < ۰.۰۰۱), resulting in improved child nutritional outcomes. One meta-analysis reported an average increase in child birth weight of ۰.۲۶ kg (β = ۰.۲۵۷, p < ۰.۰۰۱) following maternal nutrition education. Supplementation with nutrient-dense foods such as Wawamum (۵۰ g daily) reduced stunting risk by ۹% (RR = ۰.۹۱, ۹۵% CI ۰.۸۸–۰.۹۴, p < ۰.۰۰۱) and wasting by ۲۲% (RR = ۰.۷۸, ۹۵% CI ۰.۶۷–۰.۹۲, p = ۰.۰۰۴). 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 ۰.۳۹۸, ۹۵% CI ۰.۳۰۱–۰.۴۹۶) and height-for-age (MD ۰.۳۸۸, ۹۵% CI ۰.۱۰۲–۰.۶۷۳) in low- and middle-income countries.

کلیدواژه ها:

Maternal education ، nutritional supplementation ، child growth ، malnutrition ، maternal knowledge ، low- and middle-income countries