Maternal and Child Nutrition Interventions to Improve Child Nutritional Status: A Literature Review
Keywords:
Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding, Complementary Feeding, Stunting, Integrated Nutrition Intervention, Child Nutritional StatusAbstract
Maternal and child malnutrition remains a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies persist despite ongoing nutrition programs. This narrative literature review synthesizes evidence on the effectiveness of maternal and child nutrition interventions implemented between 2015 and 2025 to improve child nutritional status. A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar following general PRISMA principles. A total of 42 peer-reviewed articles were included and analyzed using thematic synthesis. Data extraction focused on study design, intervention components, target populations, and nutritional outcomes, including stunting, wasting, breastfeeding practices, and dietary diversity. Three major intervention themes were identified: maternal nutrition interventions, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions, and integrated maternal-child nutrition programs. Maternal nutrition counselling and micronutrient supplementation were associated with improved birth outcomes and reduced risks of low birth weight and stunting. IYCF interventions, particularly exclusive breastfeeding promotion and complementary feeding education, improved dietary diversity and child growth indicators. Integrated maternal-child nutrition programs demonstrated the most consistent improvements across multiple nutritional outcomes. The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening integrated, community-based nutrition programs that support the continuum of care from pregnancy through early childhood. Further longitudinal and cost-effectiveness studies are needed to support large-scale implementation.
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