There is a wealth of empirical evidence to show that family planning can play a significant role in solving the global health problem of nutrition.
Currently, approximately 41% of pregnancies are unintended. When women and girls have high-risk and/or unintended pregnancies there is a direct impact on birth outcomes and the nutritional and health status of both mother and child. More than 2 million children die each year as a result of undernutrition before the age of five, and iron deficiency anemia is estimated to contribute to a significant number of maternal deaths each year in low-middle-income countries.
When intervals between births are too short, mothers may be at risk of undernutrition, resulting in anemia and other micronutrient deficiencies. Short pregnancy intervals also increase the risk of infants being born preterm, small for gestational age, and with low birth weight, all of which are associated with childhood undernutrition.
Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to undernutrition during pregnancy and motherhood because they are undergoing a critical period of growth and development themselves. Some studies have shown that as a way of adjusting for increased energy needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, adolescent girls stop growing. The risk for anemia is also much higher among mothers aged 15 and younger as compared to those aged 20-24. Data from 55 low- to middle-income countries showed that teen mothers face the highest risk of poor child health and nutrition outcomes, leading to increased rates of stunting, underweight, and moderate anemia.
However, current systems primarily focus on the needs of young children and adults, leaving many nutrition policies insufficient to address the complexities surrounding maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.
Most nutrition challenges can be resolved within the current generation. Current nutrition interventions have the potential to prevent at least one-third of stunting cases in the short term. Because proper nutrition starts in the early stages of life, it's essential that family planning and nutrition initiatives work together to improve health outcomes for both mothers and their children.
Prioritizing these efforts will ensure that we cultivate a foundation of well-being that supports the growth and development of generations to come.
