The social context of childcare practices and child malnutrition in Niger’s recent food crisis

TitleThe social context of childcare practices and child malnutrition in Niger's recent food crisis
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsHampshire, K., R. Casiday, K. Kilpatrick, and C. Panter-Brick
In 2004-05, Niger suffered a food crisis during which global attention focused on high levels of acute malnutrition among children. In response, decentralised emergency nutrition programmes were introduced into much of southern Niger. Child malnutrition, however, is a chronic problem and its links with food production and household food security are complex. This qualitative, anthropological study investigates pathways by which children are rendered vulnerable in the context of a nutritional 'emergency'. It focuses on household-level decisions that determine resource allocation and childcare practices in order to explain why practices apparently detrimental to children's health persist. Risk aversion, the need to maintain self-identity and status, and constrained decision making result in a failure to invest extra necessary resources ingrowth-faltering children. Understanding and responding to the social context of child malnutrition will help humanitarian workers to integrate their efforts more effectively with longer-term development programmes aimed at improving livelihood security.
Title The social context of childcare practices and child malnutrition in Niger's recent food crisis
Publication Title Disasters
Publication Type Journal Article
Published Year 2009
Authors K. Hampshire; R. Casiday; K. Kilpatrick; C. Panter-Brick
Accession Number 18513311
Number 1
ISBN Number 1467-7717 (Electronic)<br/>0361-3666 (Linking)
Grant List
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