**4.14 Policy implications**

Affected areas should improve socioeconomic conditions. Because, if living standards are improved, there will be better health care and a reduction in infant and child diseases, child malnutrition and child mortality.

The policymakers need to give more attention to some areas which have high rates of poverty, such as the southern part of Nigeria. These areas are more likely to have a higher proportion of undernutrition compared to other areas, due to poor health facilities and complications during childbirth or even carelessness and misdiagnosis during hospital care. Therefore, the most important issues to address in these areas are health care, proper food, and raising the educational level of parents.
