Stunting, or being too short for one’s age, is a warning signal that a child is at risk of failing to reach their full physical and developmental potential. Stunting is caused by poor nutrition and frequent infections during early life.
The consequences of stunting include impaired brain development, poor educational outcomes, reduced earnings in adulthood, and an increased probability of living in poverty. In Zambia, stunting remains a significant problem, impacting 35 percent of children under the age of five, which is higher than the average within Africa of 31 percent (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank 2023).
In collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Health and IPA, researchers evaluated the impact of homebased growth charts and SQ-LNS— ready-to-eat small packets of paste that provide energy, protein, fats and micronutrients— on child growth, nutrition, and development outcomes.