Unveiling a “silent epidemic”: How do food insecurity and malnutrition affect the health outcomes of the older adults in West Africa? An analysis of the impact and health outcomes of food insecurity and malnutrition among older adults in West Africa

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity and malnutrition have been major challenges and threats to humans influencing health generally as well as having negative effects on the economy. In West Africa, the older population is subjected to food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among the rural dwellers which leads to various health effects physically, biologically, and psychologically. Food insecurity and malnutrition are caused by several factors such as climate change, war and famine, pests and diseases, and political and economic crises. Objectives: The aim of this study is to understand more of the health outcomes and causes of food insecurity and malnutrition among the older population in West Africa. Methods: This study utilizes a narrative review method in which a database search was conducted using Google Scholar, Medline, and Pubmed with search terms “Food insecurity”, “Malnutrition”, “Diet”, “Hunger”, and “West Africa”. The selected articles are within West Africa. Zotero software was used to save the selected articles for reference. The study is written as a monograph. Results: The results of the studies show that the majority of the older adults in West Africa are suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition, which is highly prevalent among rural dwellers and this has severe health effects such as mental and psychological disorders, weakened immune and dysfunction and other chronic and cardiovascular diseases. The finding also shows that food insecurity and malnutrition are caused by climate change, war and famine, pests and diseases, economic crises, and political crises. The findings show that little attention is paid to the health effects caused by food insecurity and malnutrition among the older population in this region, thus increasing the health problem. 4 Conclusions: The study shows that food insecurity and malnutrition contribute to health problems among the older population in West Africa and these health effects include psychological and physical effects (mental disorders and inability to complete daily activities), and biological (chronic, cardiovascular diseases). Factors that contribute to food insecurity and malnutrition in West Africa are climate change, war and famine, pests, and diseases while reaffirming to creation of a supportive program to reduce and eliminate food insecurity and malnutrition in the region