Coping through a drought: the association between child nutritional status and household food insecurity in the district of iLembe, South Africa.

The negative effects of drought appear to contribute to increased rates of child stunting through higher levels of household food insecurity. Future research should assess this relationship through longitudinal studies. Interventions aimed at improving food security may assist in reducing child malnutrition, but policymakers should consider urban-rural differences as well as climatic and environmental events.