Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Oct 22;19(10):e0290199.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290199. eCollection 2024.

How do gender norms contribute to stunting in Ntchisi District, Malawi? a qualitative study

Whitney Mphangwe  1   2 , Ann Nolan  1 , Frédérique Vallières  1 , Mairéad Finn  1   3
Affiliations

How do gender norms contribute to stunting in Ntchisi District, Malawi? a qualitative study

Whitney Mphangwe et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background and aim: Despite adequate food production and nutrition intervention coverage, stunting remains an enduring problem in Ntchisi, Malawi. Globally, gender and social norms are known to influence nutritional outcomes in children. This study explores how gender norms contribute to child stunting, in Ntchisi district, Central Malawi.

Research methods: Informed by the UNICEF Framework for Malnutrition, nine focus group discussions were conducted with a target population of mothers (n = 24), fathers (n = 23) purposively targeted through growth monitoring sessions, and members of policy and health treatment committees (n = 21), spanning three different areas of Ntchisi district. Data were analysed through inductive thematic analysis, guided by the framework for Research in Gender and Ethics (RinGs).

Results: Three primary themes were identified: 1) gender unequal decision making on the consumption, sale and distribution of food; 2) enshrined community norms influence feeding practices underpinned by gender-based violence; and 3) policy disconnections and gaps that reinforce gender norms regarding nutrition. Themes encompassed practices across household, health treatment, and policy level.

Conclusion: Gender norms that underpin inequalities in decision making for production and consumption of food undermine children's nourishment and contributes towards sustained child malnutrition in Ntchisi. Existing policy documents should revise their guidelines to incorporate gender norms as key determinants of malnutrition.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. UNICEF framework for malnutrition.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Gender norms contributing to stunting in Ntchisi District, Malawi.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Factors contributing to stunting adapted to the 1990 UNICEF conceptual framework of malnutrition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organisation. Malnutrition Factsheet. World Health Organisation; 2020.
    1. UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group. Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition: UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates. Key Findings of the 2018 Edition. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); 2018.
    1. UNICEF. Nutrition, Malnutrition: Current Status and Progress. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); 2018.
    1. Dewey KG, Begum K. Long-term consequences of stunting in early life. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2011/10/01 2011;7(s3):5–18. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00349.x - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aheto JMK, Keegan TJ, Taylor BM, Diggle PJ. Childhood Malnutrition and Its Determinants among Under-Five Children in Ghana. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2015/11/01 2015;29(6):552–561. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12222 - DOI - PubMed