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Micronutrient deficiencies in maternity and child health: a review of environmental and social context and implications for Malawi

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Abstract

It is well documented that micronutrient malnutrition is of increasing concern in the developing world, resulting in poor health and high rates of mortality and morbidity. During pregnancy, deficiency of iron and zinc can produce cognitive and growth impairment of the foetus, which may continue into infancy. Iron and zinc are essential micronutrients for both plant growth and human nutrition. Despite significant work in the areas of soil fertility, crop biofortification and dietary interventions, the problems of micronutrient deficiencies persist in Africa. There is a need to examine why communities have not embraced intervention strategies which may offer health benefits. Bottom-up, interdisciplinary approaches are required to effectively study the relationships between local communities and their environment, and to assess the impact their behaviour has on the cycling of micronutrients within the soil–plant–human system. From a detailed consideration of diverse influencing factors, a methodological model is suggested for studying the barriers to improving micronutrient uptake within rural communities. It combines environmental understanding with health and social factors, emphasising the need for and potential benefits of understanding and coherence in true interdisciplinary working.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been part supported through the Joint Environment & Human Health Programme funded by NERC, DEFRA, EA, MOD, ESRC and MRC. Grant no. NE/E008313/1. The authors wish to acknowledge the valuable input of collaborators in the Universities of the West Scotland and Strathclyde (UK), Essen (Germany) and Malawi (Blantyre and Bunda) and staff of AGLIT (Malawi) to the wider programme of work.

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  1. School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland, UK

    Natalie Dickinson, Gordon Macpherson & John Atkinson

  2. School of Engineering and Science, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 3BE, Scotland, UK

    Natalie Dickinson, Gordon Macpherson & Andrew S. Hursthouse

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  1. Natalie Dickinson
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  2. Gordon Macpherson
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Correspondence to Andrew S. Hursthouse.

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Dickinson, N., Macpherson, G., Hursthouse, A.S. et al. Micronutrient deficiencies in maternity and child health: a review of environmental and social context and implications for Malawi. Environ Geochem Health 31, 253–272 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-008-9207-4

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