The impact of climate change on child nutrition in Indonesia: a conceptual framework and scoping review of the available evidence.

Abstract

Background: Climate change is expected to significantly impact child nutrition, worsening global health inequities. Indonesia, a country highly vulnerable to climate change, also faces substantial child malnutrition challenges. However, comprehensive knowledge on climate change's impacts on child nutrition in Indonesia is limited. This study addresses this gap through a scoping review of the scientific evidence on the effects of climate change on child nutrition in Indonesia.

Methods: We developed a conceptual framework based on global literature to guide our systematic search, linking climate change to child nutrition and its determinants in Indonesia. Systematic searches were conducted in English and Indonesian on Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed, supplemented by Google Scholar and citation screening. We included peer-reviewed, Scopus-indexed studies focused on Indonesia, examining either direct or indirect impacts of climate change on child nutrition. A narrative synthesis was performed, structured around outcomes identified in our framework: (1) nutrition-associated conditions, (2) diets and disease, (3) social dynamics and (4) food system shocks.

Results: From 3025 records, 134 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were either multicountry including Indonesia (23%, n=31), Indonesia-specific across multiple regions (26%, n=35) or region-specific, mainly focused on Java (22%, n=29), Sumatra (11%, n=14), Kalimantan (7%, n=9) and Sulawesi (7%, n=9). Other regions were under-represented (5%, n=7). Most studies used quantitative methods (87%, n=116). Few studies assessed direct links between climate change and nutritional outcomes (n=5), food security or dietary quality (n=7); more focused on indirect pathways such as disease (n=49), social dynamics (n=18) and food system disruptions (n=55).

Conclusions: Evidence suggests significant impacts of climate change on child nutrition in Indonesia, highlighting the need for urgent action. Further localised studies that consider contextual factors, and actions focused on strengthening health and nutrition systems, are critical, especially in regions most vulnerable to both climate change and child malnutrition.