Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

Abstract Background Community-based interventions hold promise for addressing adolescent malnutrition, but there is limited knowledge of their nature and impact on adolescent nutrition outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review aimed to characterize community-based ado...

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Main Authors: Marijana Ranisavljev, Adi Lukas Kurniawan, Elisabetta Ferrero, Sachin Shinde, Shuangyu Zhao, Uttara Partap, Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi, Noubar Clarisse Dah, Erick Agure, Hanna Y. Berhane, Christine Neumann, Deda Ogum Alangea, Shuyan Liu, Sergej M. Ostojic, Wafaie W. Fawzi, Fiona Walsh, Till Bärnighausen, ARISE-NUTRINT collaborators
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01136-2
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author Marijana Ranisavljev
Adi Lukas Kurniawan
Elisabetta Ferrero
Sachin Shinde
Shuangyu Zhao
Uttara Partap
Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi
Noubar Clarisse Dah
Erick Agure
Hanna Y. Berhane
Christine Neumann
Deda Ogum Alangea
Shuyan Liu
Sergej M. Ostojic
Wafaie W. Fawzi
Fiona Walsh
Till Bärnighausen
ARISE-NUTRINT collaborators
author_facet Marijana Ranisavljev
Adi Lukas Kurniawan
Elisabetta Ferrero
Sachin Shinde
Shuangyu Zhao
Uttara Partap
Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi
Noubar Clarisse Dah
Erick Agure
Hanna Y. Berhane
Christine Neumann
Deda Ogum Alangea
Shuyan Liu
Sergej M. Ostojic
Wafaie W. Fawzi
Fiona Walsh
Till Bärnighausen
ARISE-NUTRINT collaborators
author_sort Marijana Ranisavljev
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Community-based interventions hold promise for addressing adolescent malnutrition, but there is limited knowledge of their nature and impact on adolescent nutrition outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review aimed to characterize community-based adolescent nutrition interventions in LMICs and summarize their effects on adolescent nutrition outcomes. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL through the Cochrane Library for studies published between 2000 and 2023. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies addressing adolescent malnutrition in LMIC community settings, involving adolescents aged 10–19 years. A narrative synthesis was employed to analyze and describe the evidence. Results Our review included 37 records from 36 studies conducted in 27 countries. Interventions included micronutrient supplementation, nutrition education, food supplementation and fortification, physical activity education, and multicomponent approaches. The intervention duration ranged from 3 weeks to 2 years, with limited studies grounded in theoretical frameworks. Fifty-seven percent of interventions (n = 21) targeted adolescent girls, indicating a gap in programs for boys and other vulnerable groups, such as out-of-school adolescents and migrants. The intervention delivery agents included research staff and healthcare professionals. The majority of interventions were delivered in person; few utilized social media strategies. Among the studies reviewed, nine out of ten evaluating micronutrient supplementation, six out of seven assessing nutrition education, and seven out of eight examining multicomponent interventions reported improvement in at least one nutrition or diet-related outcome. Conclusions Community-based interventions hold promise for improving adolescent nutritional status in LMICs. However, our review highlights gaps in the evidence base, marked by significant variability in intervention design, delivery, and implementation platforms. This underscores the need for integrated approaches and rigorous evaluations of their implementation outcomes, including acceptability, relevance, feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability, in addressing adolescent nutrition challenges. Registration The review protocol was registered prospectively with the Open Science Framework on 19 July 2023 ( https://osf.io/t2d78 ).
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spelling doaj-art-2f6fe5d7f19c4ee6b85bc7934034900c2025-08-20T01:47:33ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912025-04-0124112810.1186/s12937-025-01136-2Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping reviewMarijana Ranisavljev0Adi Lukas Kurniawan1Elisabetta Ferrero2Sachin Shinde3Shuangyu Zhao4Uttara Partap5Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi6Noubar Clarisse Dah7Erick Agure8Hanna Y. Berhane9Christine Neumann10Deda Ogum Alangea11Shuyan Liu12Sergej M. Ostojic13Wafaie W. Fawzi14Fiona Walsh15Till Bärnighausen16ARISE-NUTRINT collaboratorsCenter for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Public Health Nutrition DivisionHeidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heidelberg UniversityDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityResearch Division, University of KwaZulu-NatalNational Institute of Public Health, Nouna Health Research CenterHeidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heidelberg UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Behavioral Sciences, Addis Continental Institute of Public HealthHeidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heidelberg UniversityDepartment of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of GhanaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Campus Charité Mitte), Charité – UniversitätsmedizinCenter for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Public Health Nutrition DivisionDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard UniversityHeidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heidelberg UniversityAbstract Background Community-based interventions hold promise for addressing adolescent malnutrition, but there is limited knowledge of their nature and impact on adolescent nutrition outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review aimed to characterize community-based adolescent nutrition interventions in LMICs and summarize their effects on adolescent nutrition outcomes. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL through the Cochrane Library for studies published between 2000 and 2023. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies addressing adolescent malnutrition in LMIC community settings, involving adolescents aged 10–19 years. A narrative synthesis was employed to analyze and describe the evidence. Results Our review included 37 records from 36 studies conducted in 27 countries. Interventions included micronutrient supplementation, nutrition education, food supplementation and fortification, physical activity education, and multicomponent approaches. The intervention duration ranged from 3 weeks to 2 years, with limited studies grounded in theoretical frameworks. Fifty-seven percent of interventions (n = 21) targeted adolescent girls, indicating a gap in programs for boys and other vulnerable groups, such as out-of-school adolescents and migrants. The intervention delivery agents included research staff and healthcare professionals. The majority of interventions were delivered in person; few utilized social media strategies. Among the studies reviewed, nine out of ten evaluating micronutrient supplementation, six out of seven assessing nutrition education, and seven out of eight examining multicomponent interventions reported improvement in at least one nutrition or diet-related outcome. Conclusions Community-based interventions hold promise for improving adolescent nutritional status in LMICs. However, our review highlights gaps in the evidence base, marked by significant variability in intervention design, delivery, and implementation platforms. This underscores the need for integrated approaches and rigorous evaluations of their implementation outcomes, including acceptability, relevance, feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability, in addressing adolescent nutrition challenges. Registration The review protocol was registered prospectively with the Open Science Framework on 19 July 2023 ( https://osf.io/t2d78 ).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01136-2Community interventionsMalnutritionAdolescentsReviewLow- and middle-income countries
spellingShingle Marijana Ranisavljev
Adi Lukas Kurniawan
Elisabetta Ferrero
Sachin Shinde
Shuangyu Zhao
Uttara Partap
Ntombizodumo Mkwanazi
Noubar Clarisse Dah
Erick Agure
Hanna Y. Berhane
Christine Neumann
Deda Ogum Alangea
Shuyan Liu
Sergej M. Ostojic
Wafaie W. Fawzi
Fiona Walsh
Till Bärnighausen
ARISE-NUTRINT collaborators
Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Nutrition Journal
Community interventions
Malnutrition
Adolescents
Review
Low- and middle-income countries
title Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
title_full Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
title_fullStr Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
title_short Community-based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
title_sort community based interventions addressing multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low and middle income countries a scoping review
topic Community interventions
Malnutrition
Adolescents
Review
Low- and middle-income countries
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01136-2
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