Impacts of Maternal and Child Under-nutrition

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Impacts of maternal and child under-nutrition
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Under-nutrition is the intake of nutrients and energy insufficiently such that the needs of an
individual in the maintenance of good health are not met. Maternal under-nutrition has been
attributed for causing both long term and short term adverse health effects on the child (Crowley,
2017). Under-nutrition is classified into two broad categories; macronutrient deficiency and
malnutrition. The former occurs when a pregnant woman generally consumes enough food but
fail to intake some specific essential micronutrients. Such nutrients are vital for maintaining
healthy growth and functioning of specific body systems and/or parts. On the other hand,
maternal malnutrition occurs when a pregnant woman continuously consumes less energy than is
required by their bodies (Ricci & Kyle, 2009). Such energy is measured in calories and is
predominantly obtained from carbohydrates and proteins.
The nutritional status of a woman prior to pregnancy influences her health during her pregnancy
period and subsequently that of their baby. The key determinant of nutritional status is primarily
their nutritional intake. Undernourishment prior to conception due to lack of proper feeding
causes a woman to be underweight and malnourished at the time of conception. Consequently, a
continuous negative impact on her nutritional status during pregnancy arises. The resulting
malnutrition condition affects the fetus and the newborn baby even in its long term growth
(Symonds & Ramsay, 2010). When malnourishment occurs in the early and late stages of fetal
development, lifelong programming effects occur. As such, the baby is predisposed to chronic
health complications later in life. To cope with malnutrition, for example, the fetus may develop
metabolism adaptations that reduce production of glucose and insulin. Research has shown that
such adaptations result in permanent programming of the metabolic system. As a result, the child
is at a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes later in life (Frayn &
Evans, 2019).

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There are various micronutrients whose deficiency before pregnancy affects the health and
development of the fetus and subsequently implicates the child negatively after birth. During
early pregnancy, deficiency of folate is attributed to poor development of the neural tube. This
tube is vital for growing fetus as it is the foundation from which the spinal cord and the brain
develops. As such, spina bifida among other conditions may arise out of folate deficiency
(Pavord & Hunt, 2010). The nutrition of a woman prior to conception plays a vital role in the
determination of folate status. Researchers have established that calcium plays an important role
in the formation of the skeletal structure. Its deficiency results in poor formation of bones of a
fetus. It is therefore essential for pregnant women to have sufficient deposits of calcium in their
bones (Irving, 2012). It is worth noting that a woman can only possess adequate amounts of
calcium through long term consumption.
Iron is another micronutrient vital for healthy fetal development. Its deficiency brings about
maternal anemia which is attributed to the occurrence of retarded intrauterine growth (Arnold &
Flint, 2017). Additionally, iron deficiency plays a significantly contributes to low birth weight as
well as slow absorption of folate. It is, therefore, a matter of great significance to ensure that
expectant mothers consume foods rich in iron prior to and during pregnancy to boost their iron
status. In the long term, deficiency of various micronutrients has adverse effects on the growth,
development of children even in their adulthood. Research has established that defects in the
neural tube cause spina bifida, a lifelong health complication (Klein, 2013). It is also proven that
the majority of children born while underweight have a relatively higher risk of developing
mental impairments while at the same time experiencing poor physical growth. Additionally,
underweight babies may have a shorter height as well as experience difficulties in learning in
comparison to babies born at a healthier weight.

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Malnutrition during pregnancy has significant contributions to the development of the fetus and
consequently to the health of a baby after birth. Some of the common impacts of malnutrition are
retarded intrauterine growth, low birth weight as well as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
(Gleicher, 2012). IUGR, in particular, is a condition whereby the fetus is relatively smaller than
the anticipated normal size for a particular duration of pregnancy. All the aforementioned
conditions are directly associated with a wide array of antagonistic implications on the
developing fetus as well as the born baby. First is an increased risk of stillbirths and premature
births. Various studies have established that intrauterine growth restriction is attributable to more
than 50% of all stillbirths. Malnutrition has been a leading causal of infants’ death within the
first seven days of birth. This condition is known as perinatal mortality and is largely influenced
by underweight births (World Health Organization, 2009). The chances of infants weighing less
than 2.5 kilograms dying within the initial seven days are 5-30 times higher than infants born
with a normal weight.
Additionally, malnutrition has been attributed to several complex disorders that affect a child
both in their early lives as well as in their adulthood. Intestinal, circulatory, neurological, and
circulatory complications are such disorders that affect a child both in their early lives and in
their future lives thus affecting the child’s potential and their productivity in the long run (Ricci
& Kyle, 2009). Cretinism is another impediment that may arise out of malnutrition during
pregnancy. This congenital condition causes poor coordination, dry skin, and dull facial
expression by affecting the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Brain damage is another
implication that extends to the later years of a child. This affects child potential and productivity
by implicating their learning, coordination, and social capabilities.