Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Twenty-four-hour recalls of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) often overestimate the percentage of infants exclusively breastfed. Researchers compared five other methods to measure EBF. Calculating the midpoint prevalence among infants 4–5.9 and 6–7.9 months and a since-birth recall among infants aged 6–11.9 months were feasible to collect in household surveys and better align with the EBF for six months as recommended.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
In Burkina Faso, fortified balanced energy-protein supplementation (BEP) did not reduce maternal anemia or increase gestational weight gain when compared with iron–folic acid. Small positive effects of maternal BEP supplementation on birth outcomes support the need for additional investigation of different biochemical and postnatal outcomes.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Researchers tested four supplementation strategies and found that women who used multiple micronutrient supplementation had lower risk of preterm and very preterm births and low and very low birthweight when compared with other supplementation protocols.
USAID Nutrition Resource Hub
From July 2016 to July 2017, The Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) project conducted interviews with 33 of the largest maize-milling companies in Uganda to determine the extent to which large-scale mills were fortifying and to understand barriers and enablers to fortification. SPRING collected information on the quantity of fortified flour produced each year, the market environment for fortified flour, fortificants and technologies used, and the incremental cost for fortification for medium- and large-scale millers.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Intersecting crises, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflict, jeopardized the Sustainable Development Goals. Intersecting solutions, including strengthening social protection systems and public services and investing in clean energy, will address root causes of environmental degradation, climate change, and increasing inequality. Investment in data and information infrastructure to produce timely, high-quality, and disaggregated data is critical. The report is available in Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Integrating a mobile app with existing services improved timeliness of home visits and appropriate counseling, especially when existing service levels were low, but did not impact infant and young child feeding practices. Digital enhancements can complement but should not replace other efforts to strengthen health systems and address structural barriers.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Mothers, fathers, and mothers-in-law in Bangladesh each responded to different types of messaging from community health workers counseling families on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Key motivators were improved fetal growth and child intelligence, while improved maternal health was the least motivating outcome, even among mothers. Persuasion on maternal rest required the most intensive effort, which resulted in scientifically inaccurate messaging. Training and monitoring to address flawed counseling narratives are critical.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
The relationship between depression and diets and anthropometry was most common in the literature, while the connection between infant and young child feeding and anxiety, stress, and mental well-being were least studied. It is important to generate more research exploring the relationship between stress and food insecurity, lack of access to healthy and diverse diets, and poor clinical nutrition.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
The Momby app is a virtual assistant that provides nutritional advice and education on fetal development, bonding practices, essential newborn care, and breastfeeding. Users can make health care appointments and ask questions in real time. The app also features a version for fathers. Apps are not a replacement for health staff but offer a way for caregivers to seek out information and for health workers to expand their reach.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Stakeholders defined current concerns with technical assistance, identified their root causes, and developed innovative and context-specific solutions. Developing a more collaborative and less dependent relationship between governments and donors and shifting from siloed projects to more holistic and patient-centered work are important. Principles to guide future work include focusing on the system as a whole, nurturing existing systems, fostering strong governance, and cultivating trust.