Other Titles
Unveiling the Realities: Childhood Malnutrition in Togo [Title Slide]
Abstract
This community nursing project was developed as part of an international clinical initiative in partnership with global organizations in Togo. Findings from assessment tools and research identified malnutrition as a critical issue among children, significantly contributing to high childhood mortality rates. The World Food Programme (2022) reported that 24% of Togolese children suffer from chronic malnutrition, and the Global Hunger Index ranked Togo 92nd out of 120 countries (Global Nutrition Report, n.d.).
The Togo nursing initiative addressed malnutrition through three levels of intervention: education, screening, and treatment. At the primary intervention level, nursing education aimed to raise awareness about nutrition and promote the use of Moringa, a locally available tree, as a key dietary supplement to combat malnutrition (Islam et al., 2021). At the secondary level, health screenings utilized mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes developed by UNICEF (n.d.) to identify individuals suffering from malnutrition. At the tertiary level, individuals identified with severe malnutrition were evaluated by a medical team, provided with nutritional food, and linked to local health organizations for long-term care.
Over four days, the project assessed 1,016 children in the communities of Dududzeme, Kati, Kebonou, and Wohoe in Agou, Togo. Despite meeting most objectives, seed distribution was hindered by the loss of seeds during transport from the United States to Togo. Data analysis revealed that 4% (36 children) were severely malnourished, 7% (105) moderately malnourished, and 24% (338) mildly malnourished. Additionally, 35% (479) faced significant food insecurity. These findings highlight the urgent need for international and local collaboration to combat malnutrition, with nurses playing a pivotal role as the first line of care in improving population health.
Building on its success, the project is being refined for a second year of implementation. Plans include addressing language barriers, securing reliable medical supplies, and developing a tracking system to keep monitoring individuals at severe risk of malnutrition. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of sustained local workforce engagement to ensure continuous care and treatment. From research to implementation, this project demonstrated the transformative impact of nurses in supporting local communities as primary caregivers, driving progress toward better health outcomes in Togo.
Notes
References:
EveryCulture. (n.d.). Culture of Togo. Countries and Their Cultures.
https://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Togo.html#ixzz8HGNJxVHn
Global Nutrition Report (n.d.) Togo: the burden of malnutrition at a glance.
https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/africa/western-africa/togo/
Islam, Z., Islam, S., Hossen, F., Mahtab-Ul-Islam, K., Hasan, M., & Karim, R.
(2021). Moringa oleifera is a prominent source of nutrients with potential health
benefits. International Journal of Food Science, 6627265.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627265
Lundy, K., & Janes, S. (2016). Community health nursing: caring for the public’s health, Third Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Togo Ministère de la Santé. (2022, September). Annuaire des statistiques sanitaires: annee 2021. https://sante.gouv.tg/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Annuaire-statistique-2021.pdf
UNICEF. (n.d.). A simple tool to detect severe malnutrition: the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape. United Nations Children’s Fund.
https://www.unicef.org/supply/simple-tool-detect-severe-malnutrition-mid-upper-arm-circumference-muac-tape
World Food Programme (2022, July). Togo annual country report 2022. WFP.
https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000147988/download/#:~:text=The%
202022%20Global%20Hunger%20Index,of%2020%20percent%20%5B8%5D.
Sigma Membership
Mu Iota
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Global Health Issues, Ethics, Childhood Malnutrition, Childhood Malnutrition Intervention, Togo
Recommended Citation
De Souza, Estevao Frederico and Grinder, Tricia M., "Addressing Malnutrition in Togo: A Community Nursing Initiative for Sustainable Health Outcomes" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 181.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/181
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
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All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-05
Addressing Malnutrition in Togo: A Community Nursing Initiative for Sustainable Health Outcomes
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
This community nursing project was developed as part of an international clinical initiative in partnership with global organizations in Togo. Findings from assessment tools and research identified malnutrition as a critical issue among children, significantly contributing to high childhood mortality rates. The World Food Programme (2022) reported that 24% of Togolese children suffer from chronic malnutrition, and the Global Hunger Index ranked Togo 92nd out of 120 countries (Global Nutrition Report, n.d.).
The Togo nursing initiative addressed malnutrition through three levels of intervention: education, screening, and treatment. At the primary intervention level, nursing education aimed to raise awareness about nutrition and promote the use of Moringa, a locally available tree, as a key dietary supplement to combat malnutrition (Islam et al., 2021). At the secondary level, health screenings utilized mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes developed by UNICEF (n.d.) to identify individuals suffering from malnutrition. At the tertiary level, individuals identified with severe malnutrition were evaluated by a medical team, provided with nutritional food, and linked to local health organizations for long-term care.
Over four days, the project assessed 1,016 children in the communities of Dududzeme, Kati, Kebonou, and Wohoe in Agou, Togo. Despite meeting most objectives, seed distribution was hindered by the loss of seeds during transport from the United States to Togo. Data analysis revealed that 4% (36 children) were severely malnourished, 7% (105) moderately malnourished, and 24% (338) mildly malnourished. Additionally, 35% (479) faced significant food insecurity. These findings highlight the urgent need for international and local collaboration to combat malnutrition, with nurses playing a pivotal role as the first line of care in improving population health.
Building on its success, the project is being refined for a second year of implementation. Plans include addressing language barriers, securing reliable medical supplies, and developing a tracking system to keep monitoring individuals at severe risk of malnutrition. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of sustained local workforce engagement to ensure continuous care and treatment. From research to implementation, this project demonstrated the transformative impact of nurses in supporting local communities as primary caregivers, driving progress toward better health outcomes in Togo.
Description
The community nursing project in Togo, Africa, addressed child malnutrition in four communities of Agou. Over four days, 1,016 children were assessed, revealing 46% facing some level of malnutrition. Key efforts included promoting Moringa as a dietary supplement and using MUAC-UNICEF screening tools. Building on its success, the project is being improved for a second year of implementation, demonstrating the transformative impact of nurses in supporting local communities as primary caregivers.