Child health and nutrition in Africa
Child health and nutrition in Africa
This topic covers how Africa cares for the health of children from birth through adolescence. Everyone has the right to good health and a nutritious diet. Global goals have highlighted the links between poverty, hunger, child deaths, and maternal health, as well as diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Even with progress, many children in Africa still die early. There are big differences between rich and poor households and between towns and rural areas. These gaps are partly a legacy of history and how farming was organized in the past.
Malnutrition has long been a problem in Africa. In the past, farming policies favored cash crops over food for families, which reduced the variety of foods and harmed soils. This helped fuel higher rates of malnutrition.
Global and regional progress
- Worldwide, under-5 deaths have fallen a lot since 1990. In Africa, there has been some faster improvement recently, but the region still has a high number of deaths among young children.
- The main causes of death in children under 5 are pneumonia, problems from being born early, diarrhoea, birth complications, and malaria. Undernutrition is a major contributing factor.
Key nutrient and health issues in Africa
- Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness and weak immune systems. Many children in Africa do not get enough vitamin A.
- Zinc deficiency hurts growth and makes infections worse.
- Iodine deficiency affects brain development and body growth.
- Iron deficiency anemia is common and can slow growth and learning.
- Breast milk is the best food for infants, providing essential nutrients and protection. When many babies are breastfed, child mortality drops.
Forms of undernutrition
- Stunting: not growing tall enough due to long-term poor nutrition.
- Wasting: being too thin for height, a sign of recent weight loss.
- Being underweight: a combination of stunting and wasting.
- Undernutrition weakens the immune system and raises the risk of serious illnesses.
Health interventions and tools
- Vaccines protect against Hib, meningitis, pneumonia, and other diseases.
- Bed nets treated against malaria reduce child deaths.
- Vitamin A supplements, zinc, and iron help prevent and treat deficiencies.
- Iodized salt and other fortified foods help ensure essential nutrients.
- Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and therapeutic milks (F75/F100) help treat severe malnutrition.
- Oral rehydration with zinc helps treat diarrhoea and saves lives.
- Antibiotics and malaria medicines (artemisinin-based therapies) treat common infections.
- Breastfeeding support helps children stay healthy.
HIV in children
- HIV remains a concern in parts of Africa. Many children become infected before birth or through breastfeeding. Access to paediatric HIV medicines has improved, but many children still need care.
Health system challenges
- Many African countries have low coverage of essential services, weak health systems, shortages of medicines and staff, and limited health budgets.
- Investments are needed from governments, private partners, civil society, and international supporters. Good governance and fair access to care for the poor are essential.
What is being done
- Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a major strategy to reduce child deaths by combining care for common illnesses, improving health worker skills, and strengthening health systems.
- Efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths include improving birth care and emergency services.
- Countries are encouraged to invest in child health and nutrition as a smart, long-term move that improves education and future well-being.
In short, improving child health and nutrition in Africa requires strong health systems, better access to vaccines and treatments, improved nutrition and fortification, and sustained investment by governments and partners. These steps can save many young lives and help children grow into healthier adults.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:58 (CET).