A Child bearing a Child

Her name is Nabena. She is just 15 years old and she already has a child. She was forced to get married and as a result she had to drop out of school. For Nabena, motherhood was the end of her education and the beginning of a struggle to earn a living for her child.

Nabena is just a child bearing another child. Life for her has been far from easy, but she still can be seen as blessed young girl given the fact that both she and her child survived during the birth.  It is estimated by the WFP that around half of all pregnant women in developing countries are anaemic causing around 110,000 deaths during child birth each year.

She is from Malawi, home to almost 7 million children. This landlocked agricultural country has ranked since the 1990s among the top 20 least developing countries according to the Human Development Index. One in every five Malawians lives in extreme poverty with less than $0.20 a day. Poverty therefore threatens the most fundamental rights of children who account for 51% of the country´s population.

Amongst children malnutrition is catastrophic and it is the most powerful contributor to child mortality. Even though several programs have been implemented aiming at improving the living conditions of children, no change has been made in regards to the children´s nutritional status since 1992.

It is widely known that the causes of malnutrition are numerous  and interrelated. Poor childcare practices, lack of access to nutrients and the appearance of some chronic diseases are just some examples. But what is the role of women in fighting this tremendous challenge?

“They have a crucial role to play in defeating hunger. As mothers, farmers, teachers and entrepreneurs, they hold the key to building a future free of malnutrition.” (WFP)

For this reason, education and more specifically women´s education should be seen as one of the most important tools for combating malnutrition. There is evidence that shows that there is a strong link between educated women and reduction in child mortality. Educated women are prone to immunize their children as well as to improve their nutritional status.  If they are aware of the best feeding practices, malnutrition among their children should experience a decrease.

In fact, one study showed that women’s education contributed to 43% of the reduction in child malnutrition over time, while food availability accounted only for 26%. Therefore, it is extremely important to consider the role that women play in determining the well being of their children. More attention should be given to women´s empowerment  and education in countries such as Malawi where women are constantly being deprived of their right to education due to pregnancy and marriage.

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