Journal of
eISSN: 2373-4310
Submit manuscript...
Research Article Volume 14 Issue 1
Global malnutrition: policies and supports needed to address children underfive malnutrition in lower-middle-income country like Nigeria.
Oyerinde Oluyinka Moses, Sowunmi Aderonke O
Received: January 30, 2026 | Published: February 20, 2026
Citation: Moses OO, Aderonke SO. Global malnutrition: policies and supports needed to address children underfive malnutrition in lower-middle-income country like nigeria. J Nutr Health Food Eng. 2026;14(1):32‒39 DOI: 10.15406/jnhfe.2026.14.00385
Abstract
Malnutrition is a global challenges, which is highly prevalence in lower-middle-income country. Nigeria according to World Bank is categorized under lower-middle-income country. Nigeria’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in 2024 was approximately $6,210. According to UNICEF (2025) Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five. As malnutrition pose social and security threats, there is need to develop policies and supports needed to address child malnutrition, most especially in lower-middle-income countries, such as Nigeria. This study majorly focused on secondary data and literature review. Relevant papers were identified by searching the following electronic databases such as: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); World Health Organization (WHO) report 2000- 2025 reports, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report 2025; as well as Global Nutrition Report, 2026. Likewise review of the past related studies were done. The findings showed different policies and supports programs that can be implemented to address malnutrition challenges lower-middle-income countries such as Nigeria . These policies are: nutritional intervention plans, nutritional policies and standards, communitybased health Intervention policies, improve general education on optimal breastfeeding and nutritional complementary feeding, social protection programs as well as engaged in public private collaboration. The supporting policies were also highlighted in the findings. As this study focused on literature review future study can focus on empirical analysis.
Keywords: child malnutrition, stunting, under-five children, lower-middle-income countries, Nigeria, nutrition policy, nutritional interventions, community-based health programs, breastfeeding practices, complementary feeding, food security, agricultural sustainability, social protection programs, micronutrient supplementation
©2026 Moses, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.