This GAIN working paper examines how gender norms affect children's nutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), identifying three key pathways:
Gendered food allocation – Men’s diets are often prioritized, with women and children receiving less nutritious food.
Maternal autonomy – Limited financial and decision-making power among mothers affects children’s access to nutritious food.
Role of men – Fathers, often controlling household income, may prioritize non-nutrition-related expenditures over high-quality food for children.
Key findings:
Boys are more likely to receive better diets than girls in South Asian contexts, while in some African regions, girls may have an advantage.
Women with higher autonomy and income control tend to improve household nutrition and child feeding practices.
Policy and programmatic interventions should focus on challenging restrictive gender norms to promote equitable food distribution.
The paper underscores the importance of gender-sensitive nutrition policies to ensure improved child dietary outcomes in LMICs.
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