When rain fails, harvests shrink. When the heat rises, food prices climb. For many families across Africa, these changes are felt first at the dinner table, and often in the health of their youngest children.
A new study led by Dr Mary Amoako at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology has found that climate variables such as rainfall changes, rising temperatures, and vegetation shifts are significantly influencing the nutritional status of children aged 0 to 6 years across Africa.
Published in Heliyon, the systematic review examined evidence from 29 studies selected from 3,433 publications, offering one of the most detailed continent-wide analyses of how climate stress is shaping early childhood nutrition.
The findings show that higher temperatures were linked to stunting, wasting, underweight, and broader malnutrition outcomes, while unstable rainfall patterns disrupted food supply, household dietary diversity, and child growth.
One of the study’s most relatable insights is the connection between changing rainfall and what families are able to place on the table.
In seasons where rainfall becomes erratic, harvests often decline, household food stocks run low before the next farming season, and children face greater risks of poor nutrition.
The review found that while increased rainfall was associated with higher stunting, it also reduced wasting in some settings, showing the complex ways, climate conditions affect food systems and child health.
The researchers also reported that rainfall variability contributed to higher rates of child wasting, especially during pre-harvest periods when many households experience reduced food diversity and food insecurity.
Beyond rainfall and temperature, the study also found that changes in vegetation and major climate events such as El Niño can worsen child undernutrition by affecting children’s weight and overall growth.
The research noted a major research gap in Northern and Southern Africa, including limited evidence from Ghana, despite these regions facing increasing climate-related risks.
For the KNUST College of Science, the study reflects the university’s growing contribution to interdisciplinary research that translates climate science into practical public health knowledge.
The study strengthens the need for an integrated response that connects climate adaptation, nutrition, food systems, and child health interventions, ensuring that Africa’s youngest children are protected as climate change increasingly shapes everyday life.
The study was authored by Mary Amoako, Richard Oguah, Christopher Mensah, Fiifi Amoako Atta Panyin Essiam, Charles Martyn-Dickens, David Sugri Hamzah, and Leonard Amekudzi, bringing together expertise from Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, and child health specialists.
