فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: Approximately 159 million children under the age of five, representing 24% of this demographic, experience stunted growth. Various interventions can be implemented to mitigate stunting, including nutritional assistance, improved sanitation facilities, poverty reduction, food security initiatives, and women's empowerment.Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of women's empowerment on children's nutritional status and stunting reduction, as well as to identify specific indicators of women's empowerment that influence these outcomes.Methods: We conducted this systematic review following the PRISMA (2020) guidelines. The study protocol was approved by PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42022375020. Inclusion criteria encompassed primary intervention research presented as full-text articles (including preprints) and complete summary estimates. Studies were excluded if they contained incomplete or imprecise quantitative data or were unpublished. No language restrictions were applied, and the final search was conducted on April 23, 2025. A comprehensive search was performed across six databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science, in addition to Google Scholar. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was utilized to assess the quality of the studies. Ultimately, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and were descriptively synthesized based on title, year, study design, sample size, indicators, and outcomes.Results: The review identified 22 eligible studies, comprising 20 cross-sectional studies and two case-control studies. Quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute criteria for both study types. All included studies evaluated the impact of women's empowerment on children's nutritional status and stunting.Conclusion: Women's empowerment demonstrates potential in improving children's nutritional status and reducing stunting; however, further evidence is required to substantiate its effectiveness. Policymakers and health professionals should prioritize women's empowerment programs within communities. As healthcare providers, nurses can leverage their skills to educate and empower women, ultimately enhancing children's nutritional status and reducing stunting.