How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Nutrition Science
• Development Studies

Background:

• Child stunting and linear growth faltering have seen global declines.
• Several countries demonstrate exemplary progress in reducing child stunting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize mixed-methods findings from exemplar countries.
• To provide guidance for accelerating child stunting reduction.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative and quantitative synthesis of existing literature.
• Analysis of cross-sectional data (Demographic and Health Surveys, Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys).
• Interviews with national experts, community stakeholders, and mothers; policy and program review.

Main Results:

• Countries reduced stunting through health and non-health sector interventions (nutrition-specific and -sensitive strategies).
• Maternal education, nutrition, newborn care, and fertility patterns significantly contributed to progress.
• Progress was achieved despite contextual heterogeneity and varying levels of inequality.

Conclusions:

• Child stunting reduction is feasible across diverse and challenging settings.
• A framework organizing interventions as direct/indirect and inside/outside the health sector is proposed.
• This framework aids in planning strategies to accelerate stunting reduction towards Sustainable Development Goals.