Impacts of rising food prices on nutritional outcomes and mortality of children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Estimates indicate that 45% of mortality among children under five years old is linked to nutrition. Increased food prices can reduce access to nutritious foods, increasing nutritional and health risks for children, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We synthesised evidence on the relationship of rising food costs with nutritional outcomes and mortality in children in LMICs.
Methods
EMBASE, MEDLINE, Global Health, EconLit, Web of Science, and six grey literature sources were searched in September 2023. Searches included key phrases such as “food price shocks" and “child malnutrition". We included any longitudinal study design, with any measure of food price increase and any measure of child malnutrition or mortality as outcomes. Results were analysed narratively with risk of bias assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. PROSPERO registration CRD42023469198.
Results
A total of 18 studies were included, covering 104 LMICs. There were 16 repeated cross-sectional or panel studies, one longitudinal cohort study and one quasi-experimental study. Five of these studies were multi-country. 16/18 studies reported a range of adverse nutritional outcomes associated with higher food costs, including mortality (five studies), stunting and low height for age (six studies), and wasting and low weight for height (five studies). Low birth weight, admissions to feeding centres, reduced consumption of rice, fruit, vegetables, and animal protein, and reduced haemoglobin concentrations were also associated with higher food prices in one study each. Subgroup analyses were limited although two studies identified larger impacts on children in urban areas, and two studies identified larger impacts where children were exposed to higher food prices at younger ages.
Discussion
Rising food prices present a risk to child health and nutrition in LMICs. Policies should prioritise increasing household income alongside structural reforms to mitigate the nutritional impacts of elevated food prices on young children and pregnant women.
Estimates indicate that 45% of mortality among children under five years old is linked to nutrition. Increased food prices can reduce access to nutritious foods, increasing nutritional and health risks for children, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We synthesised evidence on the relationship of rising food costs with nutritional outcomes and mortality in children in LMICs.
Methods
EMBASE, MEDLINE, Global Health, EconLit, Web of Science, and six grey literature sources were searched in September 2023. Searches included key phrases such as “food price shocks" and “child malnutrition". We included any longitudinal study design, with any measure of food price increase and any measure of child malnutrition or mortality as outcomes. Results were analysed narratively with risk of bias assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. PROSPERO registration CRD42023469198.
Results
A total of 18 studies were included, covering 104 LMICs. There were 16 repeated cross-sectional or panel studies, one longitudinal cohort study and one quasi-experimental study. Five of these studies were multi-country. 16/18 studies reported a range of adverse nutritional outcomes associated with higher food costs, including mortality (five studies), stunting and low height for age (six studies), and wasting and low weight for height (five studies). Low birth weight, admissions to feeding centres, reduced consumption of rice, fruit, vegetables, and animal protein, and reduced haemoglobin concentrations were also associated with higher food prices in one study each. Subgroup analyses were limited although two studies identified larger impacts on children in urban areas, and two studies identified larger impacts where children were exposed to higher food prices at younger ages.
Discussion
Rising food prices present a risk to child health and nutrition in LMICs. Policies should prioritise increasing household income alongside structural reforms to mitigate the nutritional impacts of elevated food prices on young children and pregnant women.
Date Issued
2026-04-02
Date Acceptance
2026-03-11
Citation
BMJ Global Health, 2026, 11 (4)
ISSN
2059-7908
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal / Book Title
BMJ Global Health
Volume
11
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re- use permitted under CC BY- NC. No commercial re- use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
License URL
Identifier
10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016583
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
016583
Date Publish Online
2026-04-02