Nutrition
- A Mixed-Methods Study of Factors Influencing Access to and Use of Micronutrient Powders in Rwanda
Gaps in complementary feeding practices hinder the use of multiple micronutrients powder (MNP) in Rutsiro district in Rwanda. Successful MNP program implementation requires uninterrupted availability and accessibility to the product, as well as greater understanding of health benefits of the MNP.
- Volunteer Community Health and Agriculture Workers Help Reduce Childhood Malnutrition in Tajikistan
Paired agricultural and health interventions led by volunteer community health workers and community agricultural workers through home visits, community events, and peer support groups proved successful in improving nutrition of children and may be applicable in other contexts.
- Behavioral Insights Into Micronutrient Powder Use for Childhood Anemia in Arequipa, Peru
Health care provider-caregiver interactions and caregivers’ shifting emotional states between intention formation and use affected their adherence to a government-provided micronutrient powder intervention to prevent childhood anemia. In counseling directed to caregivers, we suggest providers offer clear messaging on MNP impact and planning for challenges during MNP use.
- Integrating Calcium Into Antenatal Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation in Ethiopia: Women’s Experiences, Perceptions of Acceptability, and Strategies to Support Calcium Supplement Adherence
In household trials of improved practices, rural Ethiopian women were motivated to adhere to antenatal calcium supplementation regimens, and tailored home-based strategies helped them overcome barriers such as regimen complexity, forgetfulness, side effects, and discouragement from others.
- Alternative Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food Yields Less Recovery Than the Standard for Treating Acute Malnutrition in Children From Ghana
In Ghana, an alternative ready-to-use food (RUTF) formulation that met all specifications was not as good as standard RUTF in affecting recovery from acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months.
- Use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference by Novel Community Platforms to Detect, Diagnose, and Treat Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children: A Systematic Review
Limited studies suggest that with robust program inputs caregivers and CHWs can correctly use mid-upper arm circumference to detect severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and that properly trained and supported CHWs can treat uncomplicated SAM in communities.
- Effectiveness of SMS Technology on Timely Community Health Worker Follow-Up for Childhood Malnutrition: A Retrospective Cohort Study in sub-Saharan Africa
In Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda, we found positive association between community health workers (CHWs) using SMS data entry with reminder alerts and timely follow-up for childhood malnutrition screening visits compared with paper forms. This association was strongest when CHWs used SMS data entry consecutively over multiple visits than when they switched between SMS and paper forms.
- Review of Grain Fortification Legislation, Standards, and Monitoring Documents
The majority of countries with mandatory grain fortification requirements document the technical specifications for grain fortification, such as allowable food vehicles and fortification levels required. Most document systems for monitoring. However, detailed protocols, descriptions of roles and responsibilities, means to support the cost of regulation, enforcement strategies, and methods for reporting monitoring results to stakeholders are generally lacking.