Policies to prevent all forms of malnutrition among adolescents: Case studies from Bangladesh and Malawi
Author: Natasha Lelijveld, Stephanie V Wrottesley, Amir Samnani, Benson Kazembe, Owen Nkhoma, Nerisa Pilime, Chimwemwe Jemitale, Ireen Akhter Chowdhury, Safina Abdulloeva and Deepika Sharma
Year: 2023
Resource type: Case study
Adolescence presents opportunities for investing in intergenerational health and well-being yet remains neglected in nutrition policies at global and national levels. In these case studies, Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN), in collaboration with the UNICEF Bangladesh and UNICEF Malawi, reviewed the progress made in Bangladesh and Malawi to prioritise adolescents within national nutrition, health, economic and education policy frameworks.
For each country, a situation analysis was conducted to map national policies against a combined policy framework developed using recommendations from the 2021 Lancet series on Adolescent Nutrition and other relevant reports and frameworks: the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!) report, the 2020 UNICEF conceptual framework on maternal and child nutrition, and the adolescent well-being framework proposed by Ross et al. The recommended actions in the combined framework also align with the UNICEF strategic framework for nutrition programming during middle childhood and adolescence. The extent to which national policies have been implemented was also explored, and priority actions were recommended to address policy gaps.
Evidence from these case studies provides examples of how the development and implementation of policies can support the nutrition, health and well-being of adolescents across diverse contexts.
Download
Adolescent-nutrition-policy-case-studies.pdf (PDF, 2.2mb)
More like this
Adolescent Nutrition
Why Adolescent nutrition is important Adolescence (defined by the WHO as between age 10 and 19 years) is a time of rapid growth, second only to the first year of life....
FEX: Systems approach to prevent all forms of malnutrition among children 5-19 years
View this article as a pdf By Deepika Sharma and Vilma Tyler Deepika Sharma is a Nutrition Specialist and the focal point for the nutrition of children in school-age and...
Resource: Adolescent nutrition mapping study: A global stakeholder survey of policies, research, interventions and data gaps
Executive summary Nutrition in school-aged children and adolescents can significantly impact lifelong health and wellbeing as well as national economic growth and the health...
FEX: Current evidence on anaemia and micronutrient supplementation strategies in school-age children and adolescents
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Elena Hemler, Wafaie Fawzi and Stephanie Wrottesley Elena Hemler is senior project coordinator for the...
FEX: Adolescent Nutrition: Policy and programming in SUN+ countries
Summary of report1 This summary was prepared by Emily Mates (ENN) who undertook the review as an independent consultant together with Tanya Khara (independent), with the...
FEX: Risk of nutritional deficiencies increases during female adolescence – a comparison of the cost of a nutritious diet across sex and age
View this article as a pdf By Zuzanna Turowska, Janosch Klemm, Nora Hobbs and Saskia de Pee Zuzanna Turowska is a Food Systems Analyst in the Nutrition Division of the World...
FEX: An integrated multi-sector approach to improve the nutritional status among school-age children and adolescents in Malawi
View this article as a pdf By Doreen Matonga, Keisha Nyirenda, Jason Chigamba and Dalitso Kang'ombe Doreen Matonga is a Communication for Development Specialist at UNICEF...
FEX: Regional Perspective: Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
Charity Zvandaziva is a Regional Nutrition Specialist for UNICEF ESA Regional Office (ESARO) Chloe Angood is a Knowledge Management Consultant working for UNICEF...
FEX: Anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in school-aged children and adolescents
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Natasha Lelijveld Natasha Lelijveld is a senior nutritionist at ENN. She has previously worked in...
FEX: Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation and nutrition education for adolescent girls in Africa and Asia
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Anjali Bhardwaj, Lucy Murage, Shibani Sharma, Dhian Dipo, Christine Makena, Marion Roche and Mandana...
NEX: Breaking the cycle of malnutrition: Designing an adolescent programme in Nepal
Lisez cet article en français ici View this article as a pdf Min Raj Gyawali is the Senior Manager for Health Services with the Suaahara II programme in...
FEX: Adolescent nutrition in Mozambique: putting policy into practice
Research By Erin Homiak Erin Homiak MPH is seconded to SETSAN Manica as Nutrition Advisor. Her role is funded by UKaid/DFID. She has been working for Concern Worldwide since...
Blog post: Niger’s first multisectoral nutrition plan
On the 15 November this year, the Niger government took a big step forward in tackling malnutrition by adopting its first ever nutrition policy known as the “national...
FEX: Sudan, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Yemen: Lessons from complementary feeding programming in emergencies
View this article as a pdf Gwénola Desplats is a Senior Nutritionist with ENN. Jodine Chase is the Infant Feeding in Emergency Core Group Facilitator at ENN. Key...
FEX: Adolescent nutrition mapping study: A global stakeholder survey of policies, research, interventions and data gaps
View this article as a pdf Summary of research1 Nutrition in school-aged children and adolescents can significantly impact lifelong health and wellbeing as well as the...
Blog post: Why we still need to prioritise nutrition targets and indicators for children and adolescents
Young Lives longitudinal data has allowed researchers around the world to examine how exposure to poor health and nutrition in early childhood impacts outcomes in later life....
FEX: Use of media to engage school-age children and adolescents to improve their nutrition and health
View this article as a pdf By Stephanie V. Wrottesley Stephanie Wrottesley is a Nutritionist with ENN As children and adolescents age, they experience rapid physical, mental...
FEX: UNICEF programming guidance: Nutrition in middle childhood and adolescence
View this article as a pdf UNICEF (2021). UNICEF programming guidance: Nutrition in middle childhood and adolescence. Available from:...
FEX: Adolescent Nutrition
Policy and programming in SUN+ countries Adolescents are a neglected group in terms of nutrition. In some countries up to a half of adolescents are malnourished. Yet optimal...
FEX: Improving maternal nutrition in South Asia: Implications for child wasting prevention efforts
View this article as a pdf Lisez cet article en français ici By Zivai Murira and Harriet Torlesse Zivai Murira is Nutrition Specialist at United Nations Children's...
Reference this page
Natasha Lelijveld, Stephanie V Wrottesley, Amir Samnani, Benson Kazembe, Owen Nkhoma, Nerisa Pilime, Chimwemwe Jemitale, Ireen Akhter Chowdhury, Safina Abdulloeva and Deepika Sharma (2023). Policies to prevent all forms of malnutrition among adolescents: Case studies from Bangladesh and Malawi. www.ennonline.net/policies-to-prevent-all-forms-of-malnutrition-among-adolescents-case-studies-from-bangladesh-and-malawi
(ENN_7706)