Sierra Leone: Getting beyond nutrition as “a women’s issue.”

This paper shows how childcare is influenced by a range of household actors in Sierra Leone

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2014
Country:
Sierra Leone
Document Type:
Briefing
Theme:
Food and Nutrition
Authors:
Mallett, R., Denney, L.

Abstract

This briefing paper demonstrates how childcare is influenced by a range of household actors in Sierra Leone, and sets out what efforts to prevent malnutrition can do to engage with this reality.

Key messages are:

  • Promoting good child nutrition must go beyond dissemination of infant and young child feeding practices to engage with key influences on mothers’ behaviour.
  • ‘Exclusive’ breastfeeding is rarely exclusive, with traditional remedies frequently given to infants.
  • Decision-making around food distribution, household finances and when to stop breastfeeding is deeply gendered, influencing the ability of women to act on knowledge about appropriate feeding practices.
  • These social conditions that sustain malnutrition are exacerbated during ‘lean seasons’, when there are greater labour demands, compromised sanitation, and limited coping mechanisms.

Citation

Mallett, R.; Denney, L. Sierra Leone: Getting beyond nutrition as a women’s issue.; Briefing Paper 5. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, UK (2014) 4 pp.

Sierra Leone: Getting beyond nutrition as “a women’s issue.” Briefing Paper 5

Published 1 January 2014
Contents