An assessment of the causes of malnutrition in Ethiopia: A ...

Generally, the gaps observed include the fact that care was not given due attention in
the policies and programs of the different sectors and there is low integration of efforts. There
is a lack of communication between the different sectors, since there is no institutional
framework or forum to do so. One of the major reasons for the disintegrated and fragmented
approach to a single problem might be lack of clear guidelines and the absence of a national
nutrition strategy and policy.
Table 4.5: Implementation of international conventions, codes, initiatives, and
resolutions that are supportive of caring practice and nutrition security, in
Ethiopia.
International
initiative Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
International
code of
marketing
breast milk
substitutes
• Signed in 1981.
• Some discussion
with academia.
• Expert level initiative
appreciates the gap.
• Support against
advertising of
breast milk
substitutes (Public
Health law).
• No national
regulations to enact
the code.
• No control of infant
formula companies.
• Poor use of media
to create public
awareness.
• International
experience.
• There is a quality
and standards
authority.
• There is an
international code.
• HIV/AIDS (spill over
of PMTCT efforts to
the community).
• Low public
awareness.
• Companies
changing strategies
of advertisement.
• Poverty (acceptance
of free assistance).
Baby
Friendly
Hospital
Initiative
(BFHI)
• Ethiopia is a
signatory.
• Expert level
discussion in the
country appreciates
the need.
• No hospital in
Ethiopia is baby
friendly.
• No advocacy wok
on the importance of
BFHI.
• Presence of
international
experience.
• Presence of national
IYFC strategy.
• Essential nutrition
actions endorsed by
MOH.
• Lack of national
nutrition strategy.
• Health personnel
are not trained in
BFHI.
• Promotive health
policy.
Conventions
on the
Rights of
the Child
(CRC)
• Ethiopia is a
signatory (1991).
• Incorporated into
domestic law.
• Presence of political
commitment.
• Efforts taken to
promote child’s
rights: (child rights
clubs).
• Child birth
registrations.
• Psychosocial
committees.
• Harmful traditional
practices - early
marriage, teenage
pregnancy.
• Persistence of
discriminatory social
attitudes to
vulnerable groups of
children.
• Low girls enrollment
• Child labor.
• Child mal-nutrition
high.
• Sustainable
development and
poverty reduction
program.
• Millennium
Development Goals.
• HSDP prioritizes
health promotive
and preventive
health behaviors.
• Poverty.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Cultural and
traditional factors
interfere with the
child’s right (e.g.
female genital
mutilation, early
marriage).
• Social stigma
related to HIV/AIDS.
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