Chronic malnutrition affects 37% of Mozambican children
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on O País
Chronic malnutrition affects 37% of Mozambican children under five and is linked to 18% of school repetitions. The 2026-2035 national school feeding strategy, approved on 5 November, also highlights anaemia affecting nearly 73% of children aged six months to five years, according to the Mozambican government.
The proportion of Mozambican children suffering from chronic malnutrition fell from 48% in 1999-2000 to 43% in 2014, then to 38% in 2019-2020 before reaching 37% in the 2022-2023 Demographic and Health Survey, according to the Mozambican government’s 2026-2035 national school feeding strategy, approved on 5 November by resolution No. 89/2026. The document nevertheless estimates that Mozambique remains behind on international malnutrition reduction targets.
The strategy also links chronic malnutrition to school results: 18% of repetitions in Mozambique could be attributed to it. The government says malnutrition compromises cognitive development, concentration and learning abilities, and estimates that affected children may experience a delay of nearly five years in their schooling.
The document also reports an underweight rate of 15.6% and an overweight rate of 4.1% among children. Anaemia also affects nearly 73% of children aged six months to five years and 51.8% of women of childbearing age, according to the same strategy.
