Time to act : women"s nutrition and its consequences for child survival and reproductive health in Africa = Moment d"agir : nutrition de la femme et ses consequences pour la survie de l"enfant et la sante reproductive en Afrique

Following an examination of the health and economic benefits of improved female nutrition, the report identifies key factors affecting women"s nutritional status in Africa: chronic or seasonal household food insecurity; inadequate quality of the diet consumed; heavy physical labor; intra-household food distribution that discriminates against women; poor nutrient utilization due to high rates of morbidity from anemia, hookworm infections, malaria, and HIV/AIDS; limited access to health services; and cultural beliefs and customs that restrict women"s ability to seek appropriate care. A number of reproductive risk factors also affect women"s nutritional status. Sub-Saharan Africa leads the world with the highest fertility rates and the highest percentage of adolescent pregnancies, HIV/AIDS cases, and malaria. In the past, conceptual and implementation constraints have minimized the impact of efforts to improve women"s nutritional status. Many programs are conducted as small-scale research activities or as vertical interventions that fail to reach large populations and frequently have not created demand or broad-based support. Poor service delivery, weak management, and limited supplies and distribution plague many programs. Opportunities to integrate activities to improve women"s nutrition with other programs aimed at the same or similar target groups have not been explored fully. Recommendations for improving women"s nutrition include: (1) choosing a few key interventions to improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls and women; (2) integrating nutrition programs with existing health services; (3) mobilizing multisectoral commitment and support for women"s health and nutrition and creating demand for these services at all levels; (4) using delivery systems outside of health services, such as agricultural extension, secondary schools, and women"s groups or cooperatives; (5) planning nutrition programs with an adequate time frame; (6) adapting programs to the local situation; and (6) selecting practical and simple indicators for monitoring and evaluating women"s nutrition. Includes references. (Author abstract, modified)