Nutrition situation of Burkina Faso: a narrative review

Moussa Ouedraogo (1) , Ousmane Ouedraogo (2) , Urbain Zongo (3) , Saidou Kabore (4) , Estelle Aissa Bambara (5) , Dia Sanou (6)
(1) Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Immunology (LABIA), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou. Nutrition Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso
(2) UNICEF, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso
(3) Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Immunology (LABIA), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou. Nutrition Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso
(4) Nutrition Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso
(5) Nutrition Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso
(6) FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African country, where livelihoods are heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, and the humanitarian crisis has increased populations vulnerability to malnutrition. Aim: This article presents an update of the food and nutrition situation. Results: According to the 2019 National Nutrition Survey, 25.4% of children under 5 years old are stunted and 8.1% are wasted. These rates exceed the WHO critical thresholds suggesting that child malnutrition is still a public health problem in Burkina although trend analysis suggests continuous improvement over the past ten years. Childhood overweight fluctuates between 1% and 2% while childhood obesity remains below 1% since 2014. Poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are key drivers of child stunting. In fact, 59% of infants are exclusively breastfed while only 17% of 6 – 23-month children receive a minimally acceptable diet. Children and pregnant and lactating women are deeply affected by micronutrient deficiencies including vitamin A and iron. Adult overweight is on the rise and high blood pressure and diabetes levels have reached 18% and 5% respectively in adults aged 25 to 64 years with huge disparities between men and women. Conclusion: While the country had made important progress in reducing child malnutrition, it is still facing double burden of malnutrition namely undernutrition comprised of stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity, hence the need to embrace a double duty approach to policy response to simultaneously reduce both undernutrition and overweight/obesity.

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Authors

Moussa Ouedraogo
tmatsungo@gmail.com (Primary Contact)
Ousmane Ouedraogo
Urbain Zongo
Saidou Kabore
Estelle Aissa Bambara
Dia Sanou
Ouedraogo, M. ., Ouedraogo, O. ., Zongo, U. ., Kabore, S. ., Bambara, E. A. ., & Sanou, D. . (2020). Nutrition situation of Burkina Faso: a narrative review. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 4(9), S36-S45. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.4.9.S36-S45

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