The Relationship Between Maternal Nutrition Knowledge and Education and Child Nutritional Status: A Systematic Literature Review
Keywords:
Maternal Nutrition Knowledge, Maternal Education, Child Nutritional Status, Stunting, UndernutritionAbstract
Child malnutrition remains a persistent public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, with maternal-related factors widely recognized as key determinants of child nutritional outcomes. In a broad context, disparities in maternal education and nutrition knowledge have been linked to inappropriate feeding practices and poor child growth. The purpose of this study was to systematically examine the relationship between maternal nutrition knowledge, maternal education, and child nutritional status, with the hypothesis that both factors are positively associated with improved child nutrition outcomes. The methods involved a systematic literature review of 16 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2005 and 2025. The reviewed studies were conducted in diverse geographical settings, including Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Indonesia, and involved mothers and children under five years of ageThe results indicate that higher maternal nutrition knowledge is consistently associated with better child nutritional status, including higher HAZ and WAZ scores and lower prevalence of stunting and underweight, even after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. Maternal education also shows a significant positive association, largely through indirect pathways such as improved health literacy and caregiving capacity. The implications of these findings suggest that nutrition-sensitive policies and programs should integrate maternal nutrition education with broader strategies addressing poverty, food security, and access to health services. In conclusion, maternal nutrition knowledge and education are complementary determinants of child nutritional status, and future research should prioritize longitudinal and intervention-based studies to strengthen causal evidence and inform effective nutrition interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jumaidi Ali, Samnil Astuti Fitri, Rina Widiyawati, Siti Muthoharoh, Heti Aprilin
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