Trends in malnutrition among children under 5 in Niger: a retrospective analysis of demographic and nutrition surveys comparing 2008–2014 with 2015–2021

For decades, Niger, a Sahelian country in Africa, has faced serious food and nutrition crises. Policies and strategies have been implemented by the Government, with the support of its partners, to address this public health problem. The current study was conducted to assess trends in malnutrition among children under 5 years of age. By comparing results from 2008 to 2014 with results from 2015 to 2021, this study aimed to check the efficacy of strategies and policies that were implemented to combat malnutrition. Retrospective study. Data from the annual nutrition survey Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions and the Demographic and Health and Multiple Indicator Surveys were used. Meta-analyses were performed on the data as a whole and in each age group by time period. For analysis of age groups, the 95% confidence interval (CI) data were missing, thus an estimate was made from the ‘design effect’ calculated based on existing CIs. Institutional arrangements had not changed from 2008 to 2014 to 2015–2021, and there were very few changes to existing strategies and policies. The prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition and Global Chronic Malnutrition (GCM) both remained above critical thresholds for each year in both periods. GCM was above the emergency threshold for both periods, indicating that all regions of the country were affected by malnutrition. The most populated regions (40%) of Maradi and Zinder were the most affected by malnutrition. These two regions also had highest incidence of poverty and the least health service coverage. Despite the implementation of various policies and strategies, the nutritional status of children under 5 remains an important public health problem.