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

programs that are implemented well before a woman becomes pregnant within a life cycle
perspective will have a long-term beneficial effect on both the mother and the child (Mara &
Nestel 2000).
Other relevant health sector related issues include prevention and management of
unwanted pregnancies and management of abortion services by improving access to birthspacing
information and services, including counseling, education, and family planning;
expanded health and nutritionalservices for non-pregnant women, including adolescents;
enhanced maternity care that is effective, affordable,accessible, and acceptable and that
includes prenatal health and nutritional services, safe delivery, and postpartum care; and
extended nutritional assistance to vulnerable female groups to improve overall nutritional
status, including supplementaryfeeding, micronutrient supplements, and food fortification.
Nutritional programs should also be carried out at kindergartens and elementary
schools. The promotion of optimal nutrition in girls during childhood is a sound strategy for
affecting female nutrition because it can result in a build up of the nutritional reserves that are
neededduring periods of increased nutritional demand, including the adolescent growth spurt,
pregnancy, and lactation.
Policies and actions that enhance the decision-making roles of females at household
and community levels, as well as those intended to improve nutrition in the entire household
(e.g., increased crop yields, higher income,food price subsidies, better nutrition knowledge,
and food fortification) should be advocated.
5.5. Conclusions and Recommendations
5.5.1. Conclusions
Malnutrition is one the major health problems affecting mothers and children in
Ethiopia. Drought and food shortages chronically affect a considerable proportion of the
country’s population. Micronutrient deficiencies are rampant due to inappropriate nutritional
practices.
In addition to prevailing food shortages, maternal and child health care practices,
distribution of food within households, infant and child care and feeding practices make
children and women of childbearing age particularly vulnerable to nutritional problems. The
fact that these problems are, in turn, most often complicated with infections and other diseases
that result from lack of adequate water and proper sanitation, make the stakes within the
health sector very high in terms of both having the necessary resources and accessing the
target groups for the required interventions to improve nutrition.
The fact that there is a clear relationship between nutrition and HIV/AIDS is also
noteworthy, as Ethiopia is severely affected by the epidemic. Poor nutrition increases the
heightened susceptibility of HIV-infected persons to illness and secondary infection.
Improved nutrition slows the progression of HIV to AIDS and may affect transmission of
HIV. Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding causes almost
all new HIV infections among children.
The major undertaking of the health sector is the HSDP. HSDP-III is going to be
launched during 2005/6. Among the most important components of HSDP-III are the Health
Service Extension Program (HSEP), the Accelerated Expansion of PHC Facilities, and the
Child Survival and Maternal Mortality Reduction initiatives. At decentralized levels,
Regional Health Bureaus are involved in nutrition service provision, while the Disaster
Prevention and Preparedness Bureaus (DPPB) are responsible for food security issues at
regional level. Nutrition services mainly deal with feeding and rehabilitating malnourished
children in times of emergencies. DPPBs mobilize food resources, the delivery of which is
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