Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review
Women’s nutrition has been highlighted as a global priority to ensure the health and well-being of both them and future generations. This systematic review summarises the available literature on the integration of nutrition services for girls and women of reproductive age (GWRA) into existing public...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/21/4488 |
| _version_ | 1797466945089437696 |
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| author | Rachael Menezes Natasha Lelijveld Stephanie V. Wrottesley Eilise Brennan Emily Mates Philip T. James |
| author_facet | Rachael Menezes Natasha Lelijveld Stephanie V. Wrottesley Eilise Brennan Emily Mates Philip T. James |
| author_sort | Rachael Menezes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Women’s nutrition has been highlighted as a global priority to ensure the health and well-being of both them and future generations. This systematic review summarises the available literature on the integration of nutrition services for girls and women of reproductive age (GWRA) into existing public health systems across low- and middle-income countries, as well as any barriers to integration. We searched PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for articles published since 2011 according to eligibility criteria. A total of 69 articles were included. Evidence suggested that several services for GWRA are well integrated into public health systems, including antenatal care services, nutrition education and counselling, and micronutrient supplementation programmes. However, there was limited evidence on the integration of family planning, adolescent health, and reproductive health services. Barriers to integration fell into five main themes: lack of training and capacity building, poor multisectoral linkages and coordination, weak advocacy, lack of M&E systems, and inequity. We identified a lack of evidence and services for non-pregnant GWRA and for women postpartum. Addressing barriers to integration and gaps in nutrition services for GWRA would increase service coverage and contribute to improving health outcomes for GWRA and future generations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:46:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d1012fdc776481ab152788e0f7ac4fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:46:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d1012fdc776481ab152788e0f7ac4fd2023-11-24T06:12:17ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-10-011421448810.3390/nu14214488Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic ReviewRachael Menezes0Natasha Lelijveld1Stephanie V. Wrottesley2Eilise Brennan3Emily Mates4Philip T. James5Emergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKEmergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKEmergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKEmergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKEmergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKEmergency Nutrition Network, Kidlington OX5 2DN, UKWomen’s nutrition has been highlighted as a global priority to ensure the health and well-being of both them and future generations. This systematic review summarises the available literature on the integration of nutrition services for girls and women of reproductive age (GWRA) into existing public health systems across low- and middle-income countries, as well as any barriers to integration. We searched PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for articles published since 2011 according to eligibility criteria. A total of 69 articles were included. Evidence suggested that several services for GWRA are well integrated into public health systems, including antenatal care services, nutrition education and counselling, and micronutrient supplementation programmes. However, there was limited evidence on the integration of family planning, adolescent health, and reproductive health services. Barriers to integration fell into five main themes: lack of training and capacity building, poor multisectoral linkages and coordination, weak advocacy, lack of M&E systems, and inequity. We identified a lack of evidence and services for non-pregnant GWRA and for women postpartum. Addressing barriers to integration and gaps in nutrition services for GWRA would increase service coverage and contribute to improving health outcomes for GWRA and future generations.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/21/4488integrationwomen’s nutritionreproductive ageinterventionspublic health systems |
| spellingShingle | Rachael Menezes Natasha Lelijveld Stephanie V. Wrottesley Eilise Brennan Emily Mates Philip T. James Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review Nutrients integration women’s nutrition reproductive age interventions public health systems |
| title | Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Integrating Women and Girls’ Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | integrating women and girls nutrition services into health systems in low and middle income countries a systematic review |
| topic | integration women’s nutrition reproductive age interventions public health systems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/21/4488 |
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