Exploring the forms and interventions to address malnutrition among children under five years of age (aged 0-59 months) in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

Gabriel Kanuti Ndimbo

Research article submitted to Critical Public Health

Abstract: This paper reviews the literature on the forms of child malnutrition as measured by anthropometric indicators and on interventions to address malnutrition among children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. Web of Science was used to identify empirical literature published between 2015and 2025, yielding 50 articles for the final review. Additionally, a snowball literature search was conducted using Google Scholar. The review found a high rate of undernutrition reporting. Stunting, wasting, and underweight were reported in 36 studies (39.6%), 34 studies (37.4%), and 19 studies (20.9%), respectively. Overweight was reported in only two studies (2.2%). The review identified three central interventions, primarily targeting undernutrition, as measured by anthropometric indicators such as stunting, wasting, and underweight. These include nutrition-specific interventions, which focus on the immediate causes of malnutrition, reported in 26 studies (52%); nutrition-sensitive interventions, which focus on the underlying causes of malnutrition, reported in 16 studies (32%); and integrated approaches that combine both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, reported in 8 studies (16%). The success of these interventions depends heavily on context-specific tailoring, multisectoral collaboration, and active involvement in local communities. Therefore, addressing child malnutrition requires multiple approaches tailored to the specific context, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

Keywords: child malnutrition, undernutrition, nutrition-specific interventions, nutrition-sensitive interventions, sub-Saharan Africa