Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions for Combating Malnutrition in Children Under Five in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition in children under five is an issue which persists in SSA in spite of regional and global efforts to improve nutrition and eradicate hunger. This study systematically reviewed evidencefrom Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya to examine the prevalence, determinants and effectiveness ofhealth interventions targeting malnutrition. Method: Fifteen peer-reviewed studies between 2014 and 2025 were obtained from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and AJOL, using the PRISMA framework and PICO model as a guide. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool was used to evaluate the quality of the study, and Critical Interpretive Synthesis was used to synthesize the data. Results: The results showed that rural communities were disproportionately affected by high rates of stunting (18–37%), wasting (4–7%) and underweight (10–19%). Maternal education, household income, food insecurity and cultural feeding practices were identified as significant socioeconomic determinants. Inadequate monitoring systems, poor implementation and a lack of funding were found to limit the effectiveness of various malnutrition interventions such as national nutrition policies, cash transfers, community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. While some studies showed quantifiable gains in dietary diversity and child growth, others also pointed out enduring gaps in the impact of these interventions. Conclusion: The review highlights the need for multi-sectoral approaches that integrate nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive strategies, enhance policy implementation and adapt interventions for sociocultural contexts. These findings offer evidence-based suggestions for enhancing child nutrition outcomes in SSA and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).