Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41294054›Full record

ArticleGlobal health action2025

Factors contributing to the persistence of undernutrition among children under 5 years of age in Rwanda: a community participatory qualitative study.

Madeleine Mukeshimana, Theoneste Ntakirutimana, Marie Laetitia Ishimwe Bazakare, Gunilla Krantz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global health action, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Madeleine MukeshimanaSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.ORCID 0000-0001-6983-5434
Theoneste NtakirutimanaSchool of Public Health, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.ORCID 0000-0002-4870-6251
Marie Laetitia Ishimwe BazakareMonitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Department, Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Kigali, Rwanda.ORCID 0009-0005-5724-4377
Gunilla KrantzSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-8926-2530

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUndernutrition remains a significant global health challenge, particularly among children <5 years of age. Despite efforts to combat this issue, millions of children worldwide, especially in low-income countries such as Rwanda, continue to suffer from undernutrition, which adversely affects their health, growth, and development.

objectiveThis study aimed to explore and analyse the factors contributing to the persistence of undernutrition among children <5 years of age in Rwanda that are not adequately addressed by existing community interventions.

methodsA participatory research design with the open-space meeting method was used to collect the primary data. Eight open-space meetings were conducted in two selected districts in the Northern Province of Rwanda. A total of 194 participants, including community health workers, parents/caregivers, and healthcare professionals, participated in discussions. Thematic analysis using Atlas.ti software was used to analyse the qualitative data.

resultsThe findings revealed a complex interplay of factors contributing to the persistence of undernutrition among children <5 years of age in Rwanda. Key factors identified included conflicts among parents, limited involvement of male parents in childcare, the mental health status of children, inexperienced home caregivers, and inadequate family planning practices.

conclusionDespite concerted efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations, undernutrition among children <5 years of age remains a pressing issue in Rwanda. This study highlights specific household-related factors not adequately targeted by existing interventions and proposes potential strategies to address them effectively, aiming to reduce undernutrition among children <5 years in Rwanda.

Indexed as

Child Nutrition DisordersMalnutritionAdultCaregiversChild, PreschoolCommunity-Based Participatory ResearchFemaleHumansInfantMaleParentsQualitative ResearchRwanda<5 yearschildrenopen-space meetingparticipatory researchthematic analysisundernutrition

Identifiers

PMID41294054
PMCPMC12667352

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.