International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Maternal Employment and Child Nutrition: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Policy Perspectives

Author(s) Mr. Manish Kumar Madhukar, Dr. Amit Kumar
Country India
Abstract Child malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge in South Asia despite economic growth and improvements in healthcare and nutrition programmes. At the same time, increasing female labour force participation has altered traditional childcare practices, making maternal employment an important determinant of child nutritional outcomes. This systematic review examines the relationship between maternal employment and the nutritional status of children under five years of age in South Asia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published between January 2011 and December 2024 from South Asian countries were systematically reviewed to assess the association between maternal employment and anthropometric indicators, including stunting, wasting, underweight, height-for-age, weight-for-height, and body mass index (BMI).
The review indicates that the impact of maternal employment on child nutrition is highly context-specific. Formal-sector employment with stable income, maternity benefits, flexible working conditions, and childcare support generally contributes to improved child nutritional outcomes through enhanced household food security and healthcare access. Conversely, informal and low-paid employment is often associated with poorer nutritional outcomes due to inadequate maternity protection, limited childcare facilities, irregular income, and reduced caregiving time. The review highlights the need for integrated policies that strengthen maternity protection, childcare services, social security, and nutrition-sensitive interventions to improve child nutrition and promote sustainable development across South Asia.
Keywords Maternal employment; Child nutrition; Stunting; Wasting; Underweight; South Asia; Informal employment; Childcare; Maternal health; Systematic review.
Field Sociology > Health
Published In Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On 2026-07-21
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.84219
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CrossRef DOI prefix of IJFMR is 10.36948/ijfmr

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