Rising temperatures linked to climate change are significantly increasing the risk of malnutrition among children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa, a new study has found.
The research, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed data from 345,837 children across 22 Sub-Saharan African countries between 2005 and 2023. By combining national Demographic and Health Surveys with global weather data, researchers used advanced modeling techniques to assess how temperature changes influence child nutrition and to identify those most at risk.
“Rising temperatures due to climate change pose significant risks to the nutritional status of under-five children, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),” the researchers stated.
The findings indicate that even modest increases in temperature can worsen nutrition outcomes. For every 1°C rise in average temperature, the odds of stunting increased by 1.01, underweight by 1.03, and wasting by 1.10. While these figures may appear small individually, the cumulative impact across large populations is considerable.
Malnutrition remains widespread in the region. Among the children studied, 33.6 percent were stunted, 16.6 percent were underweight, and 7.8 percent were wasted. The researchers warn that temperature-driven risks, though incremental per degree, can translate into serious public health consequences in climate-vulnerable settings.
The study explains that higher temperatures disrupt food systems and health conditions in multiple ways. Heat reduces agricultural productivity, drives up food prices, limits water availability, and contributes to the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, which impairs nutrient absorption in young children.
Socioeconomic conditions also play a critical role. Children from wealthier households and those with educated mothers showed better nutritional outcomes and were less affected by rising temperatures, suggesting that income and education offer protective benefits.
“Our study demonstrates that integrating machine learning, causal inference, and environmental data substantially improves the prediction and understanding of child nutritional outcomes in SSA,” the authors wrote.
The researchers argued that climate change is deepening existing inequalities in child health and stress the need for targeted responses, including climate-resilient agriculture and focused nutrition programs for the most vulnerable communities.
Photos credit: UNICEF