Background: Women in LMICs are important agricultural actors; however, these same women, and with their children, suffer high rates of acute malnutrition during armed conflicts.
Methods and findings: A review was undertaken of peer-reviewed literature to describe how armed conflict drives acute malnutrition in pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children. Armed conflict factors driving malnutrition were conceptualized as belonging to one of eight overarching drivers.
Conclusion: Future research must examine the effect of specific drivers on acute malnutrition in order to improve predictive models; emphasize inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding participants in studies; elucidate the role of peacekeepers in mitigating the risk of acute malnutrition; explore how to support breastfeeding women living in armed conflict situations; and explore how displaced populations affect host communities' food systems.
Keywords: Food security; agriculture; armed conflict; malnutrition.