Advocacy by Paediatricians: A Potential Strategy for Ending the Menace of Childhood Malnutrition in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Childhood malnutrition remains prevalent in Nigeria, causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially among children under the age of five years. This is despite the several governmental and non-governmental programmes aimed at reducing the burden, such as the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative. Advocacy is a powerful tool paediatricians can deploy to tackle the persisting burden of childhood malnutrition in Nigeria. They can achieve this by taking the right nutrition messages and lobbying to the relevant stakeholders.

Method: Relevant articles were retrieved using multiple databases, including PubMed, Google search engine and websites of reputable organisations. Boolean operators were used to refine searches by combining multiple keywords, such as childhood, malnutrition, paediatricians, advocacy, Nigeria, and sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 152 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved, and forty relevant publications were used to develop this review. Additionally, national policy documents on malnutrition in Nigeria, as well as the 2018 and 2023 National Demographic Health Surveys of 2018 and 2023 were retrieved and reviewed.

Results: Both governmental and non-governmental organisations that could be targeted for advocacy were identified. Identified governmental organisations include federal, state, and local government executives and lawmakers, as well as various line ministries, departments, and agencies. Non-governmental organisations include the WHO, UNICEF, other donor agencies, the media, traditional and religious leaders, among others. Paediatrician engagement with these stakeholders can lead to health promotion, increased funding and policy changes that holistically address childhood malnutrition.

Conclusion: Advocacy by paediatricians provides a powerful strategy for addressing the menace of childhood malnutrition in Nigeria.