Peer-reviewed article
Child Nutrition in Disaster: A Scoping Review
Akindele Abimibayo Adeoya, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Mikiko Fuda, Tomoko Okamoto, Shinichi Egawa ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examined 103 published articles from 1946-2020 to understand child nutrition during disasters. The study found that disasters increase malnutrition, communicable diseases, and mental health problems in children, with pre-existing malnutrition, food insecurity, and poor feeding practices making children more vulnerable. Key barriers include shelter living conditions, sociocultural factors, and organizational challenges in disaster response. The review recommends coordinated approaches including preparedness, policy development, and education of families and relief workers, along with regular nutritional assessments by designated authorities.
Key points
- Disasters increase morbidity and mortality from macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies, communicable diseases and mental health issues in children
- Pre-disaster malnutrition, food insecurity, living environments in shelters, and poor breastfeeding practices strongly affect child nutrition in disasters
- Standardized guidelines exist including the Sphere Project and Operational Guidelines for Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergency
- Recommended actions include preparedness, advocacy, policy development, education of children and families, and periodic nutritional assessments
- Future research gaps include examining food allergies in children and nutrition effects on child mental health during disasters
Limitations
This scoping review synthesizes existing literature but does not evaluate the effectiveness of specific interventions. It cannot provide direct evidence of what works best or quantify the impact of recommendations on actual child nutritional outcomes in disasters.
Abstract
Disaster endangers the nutritional health of children with resulting effects on their mental, physical, and social well-being. Adequate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in disaster prevents malnutrition and save lives. Although much progress has been made in nutritional support in disaster, malnutrition among children is still evident. This scoping review study was conducted to identify gaps in child nutrition in disaster. Published articles (1946-2020) in PubMed were sought primarily and were assessed with some additional relevant articles. Overall, 103 articles were included in the scope of this review. Increased morbidity and mortality from malnutrition (macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies), communicable diseases and mental health issues are nutritional effects of disaster. Pre-disaster malnutrition, food insecurity, living environments in shelters, poor breast-feeding practices, sociocultural factors, and organizational and administrative challenges strongly affect child nutrition in disaster. The efforts and collaboration of relief agencies resulted in the development of standardized guidelines and codes represented as the Sphere Project and Operational Guideline for IYCF in Emergency. This study recommends a well-coordinated and explicit approach that includes preparedness, advocacy, development/updating of policies, and education of children, family and relief aid workers on nutrition. Periodic nutritional assessment of children and nutritional support in disaster by designated IYCF authority are necessary. Education and participation of the general population are also important. Future assessments must examine food allergies in children and nutrition effects on child mental health in disaster.