Impacts of rising food prices on nutritional outcomes and mortality of children in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not applicable (systematic review)

• Effect Size: 16/18 studies (89%) reported adverse nutritional outcomes

• Primary Outcome: Child malnutrition and mortality associated with rising food prices

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Consistent association across diverse LMIC settings with larger impacts in urban areas and younger children

• Confidence Interval: Not reported (narrative synthesis)

Clinical Application

Findings support policy interventions rather than direct clinical applications Limited direct applicability to Australia but relevant for understanding global child health impacts and informing international aid policies Children under 5 years in resource-limited settings, particularly relevant during food price crises

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Estimates indicate that 45% of mortality among children under 5-year old is linked to nutrition. Increased food prices can reduce access to nutritious foods, increasing nutritional and health risks for children, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We synthesised evidence on the relationship of rising food costs with nutritional outcomes and mortality in children in LMICs. METHODS: EMBASE, MEDLINE, Global Health, EconLit, Web of Science and six grey literature sources were searched in September 2023. Searches included key phrases such as 'food price shocks' and 'child malnutrition'. We included any longitudinal study design, with any measure of food price increase and any measure of child malnutrition or mortality as outcomes. Results were analysed narratively with risk of bias assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included, covering 104 LMICs. There were 16 repeated cross-sectional or panel studies, one longitudinal cohort study and one quasi-experimental study. Five of these studies were multicountry. 16/18 studies reported a range of adverse nutritional outcomes associated with higher food costs, including mortality (five studies), stunting and low height for age (six studies), and wasting and low weight for height (five studies). Low birth weight, admissions to feeding centres, reduced consumption of rice, fruit, vegetables and animal protein, and reduced haemoglobin concentrations were also associated with higher food prices in one study each. Subgroup analyses were limited although two studies identified larger impacts on children in urban areas, and two studies identified larger impacts where children were exposed to higher food prices at younger ages. DISCUSSION: Rising food prices present a risk to child health and nutrition in LMICs. Policies should prioritise increasing household income alongside structural reforms to mitigate the nutritional impacts of elevated food prices on young children and pregnant women. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023469198.

References

1. 1.Domun, T., Hone, T., Garcia, D. C., Tadesse, H., Palomares-Estrada, L., Seferidi, P., & Laverty, A. A. (2024). Impacts of rising food prices on nutritional outcomes and mortality of children in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 9(4), e016583. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016583