Double Burden of Malnutrition: A Population Level Comparative Cross-Sectional Study across Three Sub-Saharan African Countries—Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe

Background: The double burden of malnutrition in sub-Saharan African countries at different levels of economic development was not extensively explored. This study investigated prevalence, trends, and correlates of undernutrition and overnutrition among children under 5 years and women aged 15–49 years in Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe with differing socio- economic status. 

Methods: Prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity were determined and compared across the countries using demographic and health surveys data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to ascertain any relationships between selected demographic and socio-economic variables and overnutrition and undernutrition. 

Results: An increasing trend in overweight/obesity in children and women was observed across all countries. Zimbabwe had the highest prevalence of overweight/obesity among women (35.13%) and children (5.9%). A decreasing trend in undernutrition among children was observed across all countries, but the prevalence of stunting was still very high compared to the worldwide average level (22%). Malawi had the highest stunting rate (37.1%). Urban residence, maternal age, and household wealth status influenced maternal nutritional status. The likelihood of undernutrition in children was significantly higher with low wealth status, being a boy, and low level of maternal education. 

Conclusions: Economic development and urbanization can result in nutritional status shifts.