TITLE:
Prevalence and Predictors of Double Burden of Malnutrition within Households in Africa: A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Reynald Santos, Charles Sossa Jerome, Colette Azandjeme, Carmelle Mizehoun-Adissoda, Clémence Metonnou
KEYWORDS:
Double Burden of Malnutrition, Household, Prevalence, Associated Factors, Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: In recent years, there has been growing interest in the emergence of
double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in Africa. In this study, we reviewed the
literature on double burden of malnutrition in households, reviewing previous
studies investigating the prevalence of DBM in Africa and the factors
associated with it. To identify relevant
studies, we consulted the PubMed and Cochrane electronic databases,
using specific search terms. A total of seventeen articles met the eligibility
criteria. These articles were published between 2012 and 2022, and their data
were collected between 2000 and 2019. Twelve of these studies used secondary
data, including demographic and health surveys. The age of children and adults
varied from study to study. All studies used Body Mass Index as a nutritional
indicator for adults. For children, the height-for-age
Z-score was most commonly used, while weight-for-age, weight-for-height
and Body Mass Index-for-age were less commonly used. The national prevalence of
double nutritional burden in households ranged from 1.71% to 38.7%, depending on the country and the year. However, direct
comparisons between studies were limited due to differences in combinations of
undernutrition, overweight or obesity. Among the factors associated with double
nutritional burden within households, the most frequently cited in the selected
articles were urban/rural residence, income or socioeconomic status, age of
child and mother, household size and mother’s level of education. However, no
study assessed physical activity, and very few examined the diet of household
members. It is essential to take these different parameters into account when
designing and implementing interventions to prevent the DBM in Africa.
Community and societal factors will also need to be studied and taken into account
in these interventions.