• In 2018, the Ecuadorian National Statistical Office reported the prevalence of malnutrition in under-5 children to be 23%.

• To explore the potential trade-off between maternal employment and child malnutrition in Mexico and to provide policy recommendations, an observational study titled ‘Maternal employment and child malnutrition in Ecuador’ was conducted.

• This cross-sectional study used data from two national surveys, the ECV (Living Conditions Survey) 2014 and the ENSANUT (National Health and Nutrition Survey) 2018.

• The findings of the study were:

1. Maternal employment is significantly associated with stunting in under-five children; i.e., children born to working mothers were 4.2 to 18.1% more likely to develop stunting when compared to unemployed mothers.

2. However, Maternal employment wasn't associated with other forms of malnutrition.

3. Income inequality, poverty, poor health status, and inadequate dwelling features were other factors leading to child malnutrition.

4. The effect of maternal employment on child malnutrition was found to be heterogeneous across various population subgroups, with the greatest impact observed among poor and rural households.

• As a result, policies should offer sufficient support for childcare activities.

• This study emphasized that a working mother's potential income increase cannot compensate for the time lost.

• However, the study had some limitations, so care must be taken when interpreting the findings.

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