The Effect of Maternal Nutrition on Child Health and Development in Nigeria: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of maternal nutrition and child health (MNCH) interventions in Nigeria between 2010 and 2023. The study assesses progress, challenges, and key factors influencing MNCH initiatives in the country. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) is an evidence-based minimum set of items that was deployed for a systematic review. This study used the Population, Issue, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) paradigm in order to enable a thorough and targeted search, with well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria to select relevant studies, offering a cross-sectional overview of MNCH interventions. Thematic analysis is used to identify trends and emerging themes, while critical appraisal tools are employed to assess the quality of included studies. Results: The study highlights the importance of timely intervention publication, policy-intervention coordination, scalability, and local evidence generation. The study accessed 627 published papers from initial screening. A total of 257 publications from PubMed and 370 publications from Google Scholar. The study further made use of 101 peer-reviewed publications in this review. Conclusion: This systematic review enhanced the understanding, developed robust policies, and create a symphony of change in maternal and child health, ultimately leading to healthier futures for mothers and children in Nigeria and beyond.