Effects of Engaging Fathers and Bundling Nutrition and Parenting Interventions on Household Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Rural Tanzania: Results from EFFECTS, a Five-Arm Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial
Galvin, Lauren, Cristiana K. Verissimo, Ramya Ambikapathi, et al. Social Science & Medicine, May 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
Engaging fathers and bundling nutrition and parenting programs impacted gender attitudes, the frequency of communication between parents, and women's dietary diversity.
Effects of Microbiota-directed Foods in Gnotobiotic Animals and Undernourished Children
Gehrig, Jeanette L., Siddarth Venkatesh, How-Wei Chang. Science. July 12, 2019, Vol. 365 (6449)
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
Current treatments for acute malnutrition, including therapeutic complementary foods, are not formulated based on an understanding of how they impact gut microbiota. This may limit their efficacy. This paper examines the links among therapeutic diets, microbiota development, and the growth recovery of children in Bangladesh. It argues that by intentionally identifying and incorporating foods that support healthy microbiota, treatment could be made more effective, affordable, and sustainable.
The Effects of Multiple Micronutrient Fortified Beverage and Responsive Caregiving Interventions on Early Childhood Development, Hemoglobin, and Ferritin among Infants in Rural Guatemala
Kowalski, Alysse J., Victor Alfonso Mayen, Silvia de Ponce, et al. Nutrients, April 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
In an area of Guatemala with high rates of anemia and iron deficiency, a multiple micronutrient-fortified beverage improved infants’ socioemotional development. There were no intervention effects on other measures of child development, hemoglobin, or ferritin.
Effects of Nutritional Supplementation and Home Visiting on Growth and Development in Young Children in Madagascar: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial
Galasso, Emanuela, Ann M. Weber, Christine P. Stewart, et al. The Lancet, Vol. 7, Issue 9, September 1, 2019
- Nutrition and Health Systems
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
In this cluster-randomized control trial in Madagascar, researchers assigned 3,738 mothers who were pregnant or had children under 11 months old to five different intervention groups within a larger scale community-based nutrition program. The groups were used to test growth-monitoring and promotion, varied intensity of nutrition counseling by community health workers, and different lipid-based nutritional supplementation (LNS) interventions. The study found that LNS supplementation over 12 months helped growth only if begun at 6 months of age. Authors suggest that early stimulation messages and home visits did not have an impact due to low uptake of behavior-change messages.
Effects of Preventive Nutrition Interventions among Adolescents on Health and Nutritional Status in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Salam, Rehana A., Jai K. Das, Wardah Ahmed, et al. Nutrients, Vol. 12, January 2020
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
This article summarizes findings from 10 studies to assess the impact of preventative nutrition interventions on the health and nutrition of 10-19 year-olds in low- and middle-income countries. Although the authors aimed to assess the impact of calcium/vitamin D supplementation/fortification, iron supplementation with or without folic acid, zinc supplementation, and multiple-micronutrient fortification, they did not find enough evidence to draw conclusive implications for practice. The article instead suggests that further studies should be conducted surrounding nutrition education and counseling and macronutrient supplementation.
Effects of the Global Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic on Early Childhood Development: Short- and Long-Term Risks and Mitigating Program and Policy Actions
Yoshikawa, Hirokazu, Alice J. Wuermli, Pia Rebello Britto, et al. Journal of Pediatrics, May 2020
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
COVID-19 is causing reductions in health care access and may lead to 42 to 66 million more children living in extreme poverty. Crowded housing and lack of access to water and sanitation make physical distancing and handwashing difficult, and researchers anticipate increases in domestic and sexual violence and the loss of caregivers. Multi-sectorial interventions to address health care, economic and food security, violence, and family support for illness and death are critical.
Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions to Improve Maternal Mental Health and Breastfeeding Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Pezley, Lacey, Kate Cares, Jennifer Duffecy, et al. International Breastfeeding Journal, September 2022
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Behavioral interventions had statistically significant positive effects on maternal mental health and breastfeeding and most showed a decrease in self-reported depression and/or anxiety symptoms in parallel with an increase in breastfeeding duration and/or exclusivity. Successful interventions shared the following characteristics: hospital staff or multidisciplinary teams delivered them, they were offered individually, they focused on breastfeeding and maternal mental health or on breastfeeding only, and they took place during pregnancy and postpartum.
Elevating Mothers’ and Women’s Nutrition
Results for Development, May 2021
Reports and Tools
USAID Advancing Nutrition has conducted a systematic review of evidence on behavioral interventions about how to involve family members in supporting women’s nutrition, launched the Adolescent Nutrition Resource Bank, and developed a learning agenda on women’s diets to synthesize evidence and learning across its portfolio.
Emergency Food Aid Challenges in Natural and Man-Made Disasters: A Systematic Review
Moslehi, Shandiz, Farin Fatemi, Samira Soleimanpour. Journal of Emergency Management, January 2022
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
The most common challenges in countries receiving humanitarian food assistance during disasters and emergencies related to access and monitoring. Research should focus on practical approaches to solve problems and increase the effectiveness of this aid. This article is behind a paywall.
Emergency Nutrition Network Field Exchange
Emergency Nutrition Network, January 2021
Reports and Tools
Focused on wasting, this edition demonstrates the continued innovation and adaptation of nutrition actors to evolving contexts and challenges. A special section highlights the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) Surge model, a health systems strengthening approach that has shown promise at health facility and district levels. Successfully addressing pandemics, food systems, and climate change requires the integration of nutrition interventions.
Emergency Response Preparedness: Rollout of the Global Nutrition Cluster’s Toolkit for Country Coordination Teams
Emergency Nutrition Network, May 2023
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Reports and Tools
Despite support and resources, few Global Nutrition Cluster priority countries have incorporated emergency response preparedness (ERP) into their work. This report showcases how four countries have begun to mainstream ERP. Authors stress the need to investigate why many countries are not prioritizing ERP, to address challenges, and help countries advocate for domestic ERP financing.
Empowering for Success: Lessons in Supporting Women-Led Agribusinesses
Fintrac Inc., February 2022
- Food Systems
Events
Speakers discuss how the Accelerating Women’s Entrepreneurship award in 2018 and the Growing Women’s Entrepreneurship award in 2019 and 2020 support entrepreneurs and their businesses—and how recipients continue to leverage tools and resources developed as part of their awards. This is a webinar.
Empowering Women Can Improve Child Dietary Diversity in Ethiopia
Baye, Kaleab, Arnaud Laillou, Stanley Chitekwe. Maternal and Child Nutrition, November 2021
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
The survey-based women's empowerment index assessed social autonomy, decision-making, and attitudes to violence and was a stronger predictor of the change in minimum dietary diversity than wealth, child age, and urban residence. Women’s empowerment should be integrated into nutrition interventions.
Empowering Women for Food Security
Feed the Future, February 2019
- Food Systems
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
Empowering women is one of the key ways we can work to improve food security for all. In this factsheet, Feed the Future provides a brief outline of three actionable steps they are taking to close the “gender gaps” in our food systems: investing in women, engaging men, and measuring empowerment.
Empowering Women in Livestock Systems (Infographic)
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems, November 2019
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
Around the world women make up two-thirds of livestock keepers, yet they often lack access to and control over these resources. This infographic shows different ways women can be empowered across food systems and provides examples of Feed the Future activities working to do so in a variety of countries.
Enablers and Barriers of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Employed Women in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries
Gebrekidan, Kahsu, Ensieh Fooladi, Virginia Plummer, et al. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, October 2020
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Research Articles
To increase exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among employed women, employers should offer flexible hours, at least six months maternity leave, and breastfeeding facilities. Identifying modifiable barriers and facilitators may contribute to successful EBF among employed women, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity. This article is behind a paywall.
Enabling Better Complementary Feeding: Guidance and Workbook
USAID Advancing Nutrition, November 2021
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Reports and Tools
This workbook highlights challenges and examples specific to social and behavior change (SBC) for improving complementary feeding. The basic concepts of high-quality SBC design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and learning can also be used to improve other nutrition behaviors.
Enabling Better Complementary Feeding: Guidance and Workbook
USAID Advancing Nutrition, September 2022
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Reports and Tools
This workbook introduces basic concepts of social and behavior change design; implementation; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning to improve complementary feeding practices.
Enhancing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Low- and Middle Income Countries Through a Food Systems Approach
Wageningen Economic Research, October 2021
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
This brief highlights the main constraints, opportunities, and leverage points to enhance food systems related to fruit and vegetable consumption, trade, processing, and production. Recommendations include locating fruit and vegetable production systems in peri-urban areas, investing in irrigation to facilitate sub-systems in rural areas, and addressing systemic barriers to ensure women’s equitable participation and inclusion. Public and private research and development need to shift from a focus on carbohydrate-rich staple crops to fruits and vegetables and should increase the availability of “risk capital” to increase experimentation.
Enhancing the Quality of Health Services—Introduction to a New Planning Guide for Implementers
WHO, June 2021
Events
Speakers discuss how the WHO Quality Health Services planning guide can support staff at the district and facility levels to improve the quality of health services. This is a webinar.
ENN's Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Programme Case Studies
Emergency Nutrition Network, August 2019
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
The Emergency Nutrition Network conducted case studies of three “high achieving” SUN countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Niger) with a strong track record in championing and improving undernutrition at a sub-national level. A synthesis document draws out key lessons and builds on three previous case studies conducted in 2018 in Kenya, Nepal, and Senegal. A brief video also highlights common themes from the six case studies.
Environmental Performance of Blue Foods
Gephart, Jessica A., Patrik J. G. Henriksson, Robert W.R. Parker, et al. Nature, September 2021
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Fish and other aquatic foods (“blue foods”) can contribute to more sustainable diets, but comprehensive comparisons are limited because these foods are rarely included in environmental impact studies. The analysis identifies high-performing blue foods, highlights opportunities to improve environmental performance, and provides estimates to enable data-poor environmental assessments.
Essential Nutrition Actions: Mainstreaming Nutrition throughout the Life-Course
WHO, September 2019
- Nutrition and Health Systems
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Reports and Tools
The World Health Organization has released updated Essential Nutrition Actions to mainstream nutrition throughout the life-course and support the Global Nutrition Targets 2025. In an easy-to-use format, this document describes actions that can be taken to combat all forms of malnutrition and help decision-makers integrate nutrition interventions into national health policies, strategies, and plans based on country-specific needs and global priorities.
Estimates of a Multidimensional Index of Nurturing Care in the Next 1000 Days of Life for Children in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: A Modelling Study
McCoy, Dana Charles, Jonathan Seiden, Jorge Cuartas, et al. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, May 2022
- Early Childhood Development
Research Articles
Most children are not receiving minimally adequate nurturing care. Further investments in indicator measurement and resources for preschool-age children are important, particularly for low-income populations and in the domains of responsive caregiving, early learning, safety, and security. This article is behind a paywall.