Author Login

Correspondence to Author: Omokhudu Idogho¹, Jennifer Anyanti¹, Chinedu Onyezobi¹, Anthony Nwala¹. 

¹Society for Family Health, FCT, Nigeria

DOI: 10.52338/jonsfr.2025.4316

Abstract:

This study explores the relationship between foreign aid and stunting prevalence among children under five in SubSaharan Africa (SSA) using a longitudinal dataset from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (1960-2020). Integrating Human Capital Theory and Dependency Theory, this analysis investigates how net official development assistance (ODA) impacts stunting, a critical marker of child health and development, in the context of socioeconomic and environmental factors. The average prevalence rate of stunting in SSA is 36.14% ranging between 7.8% in Seychelles and 56.1% in Burundi. The fixed and random effects regression models were employed to examine the data, with a focus on understanding the effects of foreign aid (net ODA), GDP per capita, literacy rates, access to sanitation, and water services on child nutrition outcomes. Findings reveal that while foreign aid exhibits a negative association with stunting prevalence, this relationship is statistically insignificant. In contrast, higher GDP per capita and literacy rates are significantly associated with reductions in stunting prevalence. These results highlight the importance of aligning foreign aid strategies with local economic development and education initiatives to maximize health outcomes. This study calls for a strategic re-evaluation of foreign aid policy to promote sustainable, self-sufficient growth within SSA, addressing both immediate health needs and long-term development goals.

Citation:

Chinedu Onyezobi, Evaluating The Impact Of Foreign Aid On Stunting Prevalence In Sub-Saharan Africa: An Empirical Analysis Using World Bank Data From 1960-2020. Journal of Nutrition and Food Science Research 2025.