By Daniel Kamara
Africa-Press – Uganda. Preconception nutrition, the food and health care people receive before pregnancy, is one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, strategies for breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition in Uganda.
Good nutrition before conception improves fertility, reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, and prepares the body to support optimal fetal growth.
When girls, women, and even men of reproductive age maintain adequate nutrition, the benefits extend beyond one pregnancy.
They influence the health, growth, learning ability, and productivity of the next generation. Uganda still faces both undernutrition and rising non-communicable diseases, therefore strengthening preconception nutrition is a practical and cost-effective investment in national development.
Preconception care encompasses a broad package of services and behaviours delivered at both community and health facility levels.
It includes routine nutrition assessment and counselling for women and men of reproductive age to identify undernutrition, overweight, or micronutrient deficiencies early.
Micronutrient support is central, particularly folic acid supplementation before conception to prevent neural tube defects, and iron support where anaemia is prevalent.
The use of iodised salt, guidance on vitamin A-rich foods, and screening for chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes are also important.
Infection prevention, such as malaria control, deworming where appropriate, safe water, and food hygiene, supports better nutrient absorption and overall health.
Family planning and birth spacing help ensure pregnancies occur at healthier ages and intervals, while involving men encourages shared responsibility for healthy diets and reduction of harmful behaviours such as excessive alcohol use.
The importance of preconception nutrition becomes clearer when we consider how malnutrition is transmitted across generations.
Undernourished girls often become undernourished mothers, who are more likely to give birth to low-birthweight infants.
These infants face higher risks of stunting, poor cognitive development, and reduced productivity in adulthood, thus perpetuating poverty and ill health.
On the other hand, women who enter pregnancy with overweight or obesity increase the child’s future risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Improving nutritional status before conception builds adequate stores of key nutrients such as iron and folate, improves birth outcomes, supports successful breastfeeding, and interrupts this intergenerational cycle at a critical point.
The solution lies largely in maximising the use of locally available, affordable, and nutrient-dense foods. Energy and fibre can be provided through staples such as matooke, sweet potatoes, millet, sorghum, cassava, and posho, especially when consumed in less refined forms.
Legumes like beans, pigeon peas, groundnuts, and soya supply plant protein and iron, and their nutritional value is enhanced when eaten alongside vitamin C-rich foods such as tomatoes or citrus fruits.
Animal-source foods, including eggs, small fish like omena, fresh fish such as tilapia, poultry, and moderate portions of meat, provide high-quality protein, vitamin B12, zinc, and easily absorbed iron.
Dark green leafy vegetables such as sukuma wiki, dodo, and pumpkin leaves are rich in folate and provitamin A, which are essential for fetal development. Fruits like mangoes, papaya, oranges, and avocado contribute vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
Milk, yoghurt, or fortified alternatives provide calcium and protein, while the consistent use of iodised salt and fortified flours helps prevent common micronutrient deficiencies.
Breaking the malnutrition cycle requires coordinated action at household, community, and health-system levels. Girls and young women should receive continuous nutrition education through schools, community groups, and media so that healthy eating begins long before pregnancy is planned.
Health facilities and community health workers should integrate preconception counselling into family planning and routine services, ensuring women who intend to conceive access folic acid and are screened for anaemia.
At the household level, promoting dietary diversity, aiming to consume foods from multiple food groups daily, improves nutrient adequacy. Strengthening local food systems through support for smallholder production of vegetables, legumes, and small fish, as well as improved preservation methods, can ensure year-round access to nutritious foods.
Engaging men and families is equally important so that food distribution within households prioritises the nutritional needs of women of reproductive age.
Preconception nutrition is therefore not a luxury, but a cornerstone of public health and human capital development in Uganda. Simple, culturally acceptable practices such as consuming diverse local foods, using iodised salt, prioritising leafy greens, eggs, legumes, and small fish, and accessing routine nutrition counselling can collectively transform community health.
Strengthening preconception care across Uganda offers a powerful opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and build a healthier, more productive nation.
Kamara Daniel, is a nutritionist at Bwindi Community Hospital
