Men as Providers: How Gender Norms Shape Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Practices

According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every infant and child has the right to good nutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and introduce nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods at six months while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. These complementary foods should be nutrient-dense, and rich in iron, protein, and essential vitamins to support optimal growth and development.

However, malnutrition remains a critical issue in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, about 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition, while the country has the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with a national stunting prevalence of 32% among children under five. Additionally, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers experience high rates of malnutrition, often due to harmful gender norms that dictate household food provision and decision-making. Our research highlights the links between maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) and gender roles, particularly the cultural expectation that men are responsible for providing food.

Findings from Our Study

We conducted a nationwide study across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, collecting data through 54 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 48 go-along interviews with mothers and fathers to understand MIYCN-related behaviours.

The findings reveal that in Nigeria, fathers are traditionally expected to provide for their families, covering expenses such as food, clothing, school fees, and medical bills, while mothers are responsible for household chores, including feeding, caring for children, and cleaning. Specifically, fathers are responsible for providing money for food, which can then be used by either parent to purchase staple foods like rice, beans, yam, and potatoes. However, once food is purchased, it is the mother’s responsibility to prepare the meals. Importantly, as the primary financial provider, the father has the authority to decide what is cooked at home. Deviating from this norm can have severe consequences, including domestic violence, expulsion from the home, or the husband taking another wife.

Implications of These Findings

These gender norms have significant consequences for MIYCN:

  1. Since fathers control household finances, their income levels, spending priorities, and food-related decisions directly influence the availability and quality of nutrition for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children.
  2. When fathers allocate insufficient resources for nutritious food, it can lead to maternal malnutrition, poor breastfeeding outcomes, and inadequate complementary feeding for infants and young children.
  3. Although mothers handle food preparation and childcare, their ability to make nutritional choices is often restricted by paternal authority over what is cooked at home. This limits dietary diversity, as women may not always have the autonomy to prepare nutrient-rich meals essential for maternal health, fetal development, and child growth.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Gender norms that position men as sole providers and decision-makers in Nigerian households significantly impact MIYCN practices. To improve maternal and child nutrition, interventions should focus on challenging restrictive gender roles and promoting equitable decision-making.

  • Educating fathers on the importance of investing in maternal and child nutrition will ensure better allocation of resources for nutrient-rich foods.
  • Empowering mothers with resources and decision-making power can help improve feeding practices and dietary diversity for children.
  • Community leaders should be engaged to promote equitable gender roles and support women’s authority in household nutrition decisions.