Education is not Enough to Reduce Stunting among Children

Serious growth retardations are associated with impairment of motoric, cognitive and linguistic skills. A Norwegian-Ugandan team of experts researched how educating mothers in healthy diet, hygiene and motoric-cognitive stimulation training for their offspring helps to reduce or even avert developmental delays in children.

For the randomized study, 511 mothers and their 6-8 month old children from impoverished rural communities in Uganda (Kabale and Kisoro) were assigned to an intervention group (n = 263) or to a control group. The physical and mental development of the children was documented up to the age of 20-24 months. 84 % of mothers in the intervention group participated in the three education trainings. They received target group-specific information on nutrition, hygiene and motoric-cognitive stimulation training for children such as singing, telling stories, hiding and searching for objects, opening and closing bottles etc.

Children of the intervention group developed linguistically, motorically, socially and cognitively faster and stronger than the children of not trained mothers. At a low cost, it was possible to promote the development of children from low-income families.

However, the initial goal of reducing stunting among the affected children was not achieved. Many mothers said they did not have enough income to implement the recommendations on protein and micronutrient rich foods. The high workload of the mothers also limits the possibilities to prepare the food according to the recommendations. Also, the lack of clean water will most likely affect the safety and quality of prepared food, according to study authors.

Education alone, particularly on improving nutrition, is not sufficient enough to reduce stunting rates. Interventions need to consider by what means the recommendations can be implemented in a sustainable manner that considers income, workload and especially cultural aspects that strengthen the commitment of those involved.

Read more:

GKM Muhoozi et al. Nutrition, hygiene, and stimulation education to improve growth, cognitive, language, and motor development among infants in Uganda: A cluster-randomized trial. Maternal & Child Nutrition. September 2017 , available via: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28925580