Nutritional Influences on the Health of Women and Children in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique: A Qualitative Study

Adelaide Lusambili, Violet Naanyu, Gibson Manda, Lindsay Mossman, Stefania Wisofschi, Rachel Pell, Sofia Jadavji, Jerim Obure and Marleen Temmerman
Additional contact information
Adelaide Lusambili: Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi P.O. Box 30270-00100, Kenya
Violet Naanyu: Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi P.O. Box 30270-00100, Kenya
Gibson Manda: Aga Khan Foundation Mozambique, Maputo P.O. Box 746, Mozambique
Lindsay Mossman: Aga Khan Foundation, Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6, Canada
Stefania Wisofschi: Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi P.O. Box 30270-00100, Kenya
Rachel Pell: Aga Khan Foundation, Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6, Canada
Sofia Jadavji: Aga Khan Foundation, Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6, Canada
Jerim Obure: Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi P.O. Box 30270-00100, Kenya
Marleen Temmerman: Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi P.O. Box 30270-00100, Kenya

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-27

Abstract: In 2017, the Government of Mozambique declared localized acute malnutrition crises in a range of districts across Mozambique including Cabo Delgado. This is in spite of intensive efforts by different non-governmental organizations (NGO) and the Government of Mozambique to expand access to information on good nutritional practices as well as promote nutrition-specific interventions, such as cooking demonstrations, home gardens and the distribution of micronutrient powder to children. This paper examines and discusses key nutritional influences on the health of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique. We conducted 21 key informant interviews (KIIs) with a wide range of stakeholders and 16 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with women. In addition, we conducted four focus group discussions with each of the following groups: (1) pregnant adolescent girls, (2) pregnant women >20 yrs, (3) women >20 yrs with babies <6 mths who were not practicing exclusive breastfeeding, (4) women >20 yrs of children <2 yrs and (5) with fathers of children <2 yrs. Data were analyzed thematically using NVIVO software. There is no single widely held influence on pregnant and breast-feeding women’s nutritional decision-making, choices and food consumption. Rather, variables such as social-cultural, environmental, economic, gender, knowledge and information intersect in their roles in nutritional food choices.

Keywords: mothers; women; breastfeeding; infants; children; malnutrition; undernutrition; stunting and Mozambique (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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