Opportunities to integrate activities to improve women's nutrition with other programs aimed at the same or similar target groups have not been explored fully. Seven recommendations for improving women's nutrition are offered in this report. It is recognized that efforts to improve women's nutrition must consider the problem from a life-cycle perspective. However, financial and resource constraints frequently limit activities to a few key entry points and interventions. For African women, these entry points occur during adolescence, pregnancy, and the early postpartum period.
Adolescent pregnancy is widespread in Africa.
Added to the stress of pregnancy are the competing physical demands of the growing adolescent and the burdens of domestic and other work and child care. Delaying first pregnancies, prolonging the intervals between births, and increasing demand for family planning services should be important elements of any strategy to improve women's nutrition in Africa. Greater access by adolescent girls and pregnant women to health services is imperative, yet each may require different strategies and approaches. In both cases, however, efforts to improve women's nutrition must create an awareness and demand for services, not only by the girls and women themselves, but by the community at large. For many programs, involving men will be critical.