TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition in Nepal via peer mobilization
AU - Singh, Akriti
AU - Klemm, Rolf D.W.
AU - Mundy, Gary
AU - Pandey Rana, Pooja
AU - Pun, Bhim
AU - Cunningham, Kenda
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright The Authors 2017.
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - Objective To evaluate the impact of a peer facilitator (PF) approach for improving mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition. Design A quasi-experimental design nested within a large-scale integrated nutrition programme, Suaahara, in Nepal. Suaahara interventions were implemented in all study sites, but peer facilitators were used in only half of the study sites. Setting Rural, disadvantaged villages in three districts of Nepal: Bhojpur, Bajhang and Rupandehi. Subjects Mothers of children aged 6-23·9 months (n 1890). Results Differences over time between comparison (C) and intervention (I) groups show that the PF approach had a significant positive impact on several indicators of mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition: (i) knowing that fruits and vegetables are good for children 6-23·9 months (C: -0·7, I: 10·6; P=0·03); (ii) child dietary diversity (C: 0·02, I: 0·04; P=0·02); (iii) child minimum dietary diversity (≥4 of 7 food groups; (C: 6·9, I: 16·0; P=0·02); (iv) maternal dietary diversity (C: 0·1, I: 0·4; P=0·01); and (v) maternal minimum dietary diversity (≥4 food groups; C: 3·6, I: 14·0; P=0·03). Additionally, exposure to a PF three or more times in the past 6 months was positively associated with a small improvement in maternal (β=0·06, P=0·04) and child (β=0·06, P=0·02) dietary diversity scores. Improvements were not observed in maternal health-seeking behaviours such as number of antenatal care visits. Conclusions Peer mobilization is a potential approach for improving health- and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviours among women in hard-to-reach communities of Nepal.
AB - Objective To evaluate the impact of a peer facilitator (PF) approach for improving mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition. Design A quasi-experimental design nested within a large-scale integrated nutrition programme, Suaahara, in Nepal. Suaahara interventions were implemented in all study sites, but peer facilitators were used in only half of the study sites. Setting Rural, disadvantaged villages in three districts of Nepal: Bhojpur, Bajhang and Rupandehi. Subjects Mothers of children aged 6-23·9 months (n 1890). Results Differences over time between comparison (C) and intervention (I) groups show that the PF approach had a significant positive impact on several indicators of mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition: (i) knowing that fruits and vegetables are good for children 6-23·9 months (C: -0·7, I: 10·6; P=0·03); (ii) child dietary diversity (C: 0·02, I: 0·04; P=0·02); (iii) child minimum dietary diversity (≥4 of 7 food groups; (C: 6·9, I: 16·0; P=0·02); (iv) maternal dietary diversity (C: 0·1, I: 0·4; P=0·01); and (v) maternal minimum dietary diversity (≥4 food groups; C: 3·6, I: 14·0; P=0·03). Additionally, exposure to a PF three or more times in the past 6 months was positively associated with a small improvement in maternal (β=0·06, P=0·04) and child (β=0·06, P=0·02) dietary diversity scores. Improvements were not observed in maternal health-seeking behaviours such as number of antenatal care visits. Conclusions Peer mobilization is a potential approach for improving health- and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviours among women in hard-to-reach communities of Nepal.
KW - Child nutrition
KW - Hard-to-reach
KW - Infant and young child feeding
KW - Maternal nutrition
KW - Peer mobilization
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U2 - 10.1017/S1368980017002993
DO - 10.1017/S1368980017002993
M3 - Article
C2 - 29103400
AN - SCOPUS:85033373076
VL - 21
SP - 796
EP - 806
JO - Public Health Nutrition
JF - Public Health Nutrition
SN - 1368-9800
IS - 4
ER -