scholarly journals Planning, design and implementation of the enhancing child nutrition through animal source food management (ENAM) project

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (49) ◽  
pp. 5687-5708
Author(s):  
Esi. K Colecraft ◽  
◽  
A Lartey ◽  
G. S Maequis ◽  
O Sakyi-Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Project Model

The Global-Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program’s (GL-CRSP) Child Nutrition Project, a controlled feeding trial in rural Kenya, demonstrated the importance of Animal Source Foods (ASF) for children’s micronutrient status and cognitive development. These findings prompted research efforts to understand the constraints to ASF in children’s diets in Africa so as to design targeted interventions to improve the ASF quality of children’s diets. The Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Management (ENAM) project (2004-2009) emanated from participatory formative research that identified six principal constraints to the inclusion of Animal Source Foods (ASF) in children’s diets in Ghana, including low income of caregivers, poor producer-consumer linkages, inadequate nutrition knowledge and skills of extension staff and caregivers, cultural beliefs, and inequitable household food distribution. To address these constraints, the ENAM project undertook a multidisciplinary community development, research and capacity building initiative with the goal of augmenting caregivers’ access to and use of ASF in children’s diets. Participatory processes were used to implement an integrated microcredit, entrepreneurship and nutrition education intervention with 181 caregivers of children 2- to5-years old in six rural communities across three agro-ecological zones (Guinea Savannah, Forest-Savannah Transitional and Coastal Savannah) of Ghana. Six matched communities from the same ecological zones served as comparison sites. Quantitative methods that included surveys, child anthropometry, and dietary assessment as well as qualitative case studies were used to assess the effect of the intervention on household, caregiver and child outcomes of interest. This paper presents the key features of the planning, design and implementation of the community intervention and the research processes undertaken to assess the project’s impacts. The ENAM project model presents a unique approach for addressing caregivers’ income and knowledge barriers to improve child nutrition in rural Ghana and may be a promising intervention model for scale-up in Ghana and other African countries.

scholarly journals Microenterprise development coupled with nutrition education can help increase caregivers' incomes and household accessibility to animal source foods

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (49) ◽  
pp. 5725-5745
Author(s):  
PA Homiah ◽  
◽  
O Sakyi-Dawson ◽  
AM Bonsu ◽  
GS Marquis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Microenterprise Development ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Food Expenditures ◽  
Food Management

Low income and lack of knowledge about child nutrition have been identified as key constraints to the use of Animal Source Foods (ASF) in the diets of young Ghanaian children. To improve ASF consumption among children in Ghana, the Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Food Management (ENAM) project introduced an intervention that combined women’s microenterprise development activities with nutrition education on the importance of ASF in children’s diets. The present study assessed the effects of the intervention on the participants’ enterprise performance, their contribution to key household and child-related expenditures as well as their households’ purchases of ASF. Additionally, household ASF consumption was assessed in monetary terms (measured in Ghana cedis (GH¢):1GH¢ = US$ 0.92).A structured questionnaire was used to interview 80 caregivers who participated in the ENAM project activities in four intervention communities and 80 non-participant caregivers in four control communities. Information solicited included household characteristics, profits from microenterprises and contributions to household food and non-food expenditures. Significantly more participant caregivers expanded (P=0.004) and diversified (P=0.004) their enterprises and, as a result, tended to have higher average enterprise profits (GH¢19.3 ± 2.2 vs. GH¢12.2 ± 1.9; P=0.08) and significantly higher savings (GH¢62.9 ± 2.2 vs. GH¢26.3 ± 1.9; P<0.05) than non-participant caregivers. In addition, the intervention was associated with significantly higher percentage of monetary contributions by caregivers towards children’s health expenses (P<0.05), school expenses (P<0.01) as well as expenses on clothing and footwear (P<0.01). Caregivers’ mean percentage contribution to household food expenses also tended to be higher (P<0.1) for participants (50.8 ± 3.5%) then for non-participants (41.8 ± 4.1%). Participant households also tended to spend more money (P<0.10) and consumed significantly more amounts (in monetary value) of ASF (P<0.01) than non-participant households. Being a participant in the ENAM project’s microenterprise development and nutrition education activities was associated with higher enterprise profits, savings deposits, contributions to household and children-related expenditures, and ASF consumption at the household level.

scholarly journals Cash transfers and child nutritional outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003621
Author(s):  
James Manley ◽  
Yarlini Balarajan ◽  
Shahira Malm ◽  
Luke Harman ◽  
Jessica Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Households With Children ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundCash transfer (CT) programmes are implemented widely to alleviate poverty and provide safety nets to vulnerable households with children. However, evidence on the effects of CTs on child health and nutrition outcomes has been mixed. We systematically reviewed evidence of the impact of CTs on child nutritional status and selected proximate determinants.MethodsWe searched articles published between January 1997 and September 2018 using Agris, Econlit, Eldis, IBSS, IDEAS, IFPRI, Google Scholar, PubMed and World Bank databases. We included studies using quantitative impact evaluation methods of CTs with sample sizes over 300, targeted to households with children under 5 years old conducted in countries with gross domestic product per capita below US$10 000 at baseline. We conducted meta-analysis using random-effects models to assess the impact of CT programmes on selected child nutrition outcomes and meta-regression analysis to examine the association of programme characteristics with effect sizes.ResultsOut of 2862 articles identified, 74 articles were eligible for inclusion. We find that CTs have significant effects of 0.03±0.03 on height-for-age z-scores (p<0.03) and a decrease of 2.1% in stunting (95% CI −3.5% to −0.7%); consumption of animal-source foods (4.5%, 95% CI 2.9% to 6.0%); dietary diversity (0.73, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.19) and diarrhoea incidence (−2.7%, 95% CI −5.4% to −0.0%; p<0.05). The effects of CTs on weight-for-age z-scores and wasting were not significant (0.02, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.08; p<0.42) and (1.2%, 95% CI: −0.1% to 2.5%; p<0.07), respectively. We found that specific programme characteristics differentially modified the effect on the nutrition outcomes studied.ConclusionWe found that CT programmes targeted to households with young children improved linear growth and contributed to reduced stunting. We found that the likely pathways were through increased dietary diversity, including through the increased consumption of animal-source foods and reduced incidence of diarrhoea. With heightened interest in nutrition-responsive social protection programmes to improve child nutrition, we make recommendations to inform the design and implementation of future programmes.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Study on The Association Between Gender and Factors That Influence Animal-Source Food Dietary Intake for Households In Lower-Income Urban Informal Settings of Nairobi, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariah Ngutu ◽  
Salome A. Bukachi ◽  
Ann W. Muthiru ◽  
Aurélia Lépine ◽  
Suneetha Kadiyala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Informal Settings ◽  
Animal Source Food

Abstract Background: Low-quality monotonous diets dominated by starchy foods are a major problem confronting resource-constrained settings worldwide including poor households in the urban informal settings of Nairobi, Kenya. This low-quality dietary intake is fueled by socio-economic disparities further complicated by gender hegemonies that influence decision making in food choice and consumption. This places the population, especially women of reproductive age and young children, at a risk of micronutrients deficiencies, such as anemia. Animal-source foods (ASFs) are high-quality nutrient-dense products that supply essential amino-acids, vitamins and minerals, to reduce stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. Previous research showed that the poorest households in Nairobi, Kenya, had low Animal-source foods (ASFs) consumption.Food security and nutrition dimensions of food security such as the gendered dimensions have been the main focus in most development interventions. However, there still exists gaps especially at the household level that try to understand the association between gender and factors that influence animal-source food dietary intake.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was carried out to establish the association between gender and factors that influence animal-source foods dietary intake for households in lower-income urban informal settings of Nairobi, Kenya. We utilized 19 focus group discussions with embedded participatory exercises and 60 in-depth interviews differently for men and women alongside unstructured observations to enable in-depth exploration of ASFs consumption and choice determinants.Results: Gender and related factors including decision making, power position dynamics of men and women as well as coping mechanisms were seen to influence household ASF dietary intake. Both men and women had a role providing for food budgets and also deciding on when and what ASF would be consumed in their households. Notably, men and women in the informal low-income settings face socio-economic challenges in planning for and sustaining household food needs including ASF.Conclusion: Nutrition and health interventions and programs tackling malnutrition in lower-income households need to consider the gender and associated factors as identified in this exploratory research. These factors are seen as intersecting with the household economic status and sociocultural practices to influence ASF dietary intake including choice and consumption.

scholarly journals Caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and attitudes are associated with household food diversity and children’s animal source food intake across different agro-ecological zones in Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron K. Christian ◽  
Grace S. Marquis ◽  
Esi K. Colecraft ◽  
Anna Lartey ◽  
Owuraku Sakyi-Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Household Dietary Diversity ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

AbstractCaregivers’ nutrition knowledge and attitudes may influence the variety of foods available in the household and the quality of children’s diets. To test the link, this study collected data on caregivers’ (n 608) nutrition knowledge and feeding attitudes as well as the diets of their household and of their 2–5-year-old children in twelve rural communities nested in the three main agro-ecological zones of Ghana. Household foods and children’s animal source foods (ASF) consumed in the past 7 d were categorised into one of fourteen and ten groups, respectively. About 28 % of caregivers believed that their children needed to be fed only 2–3 times/d. Reasons for having adult supervision during child meal times, feeding diverse foods, prioritising a child to receive ASF and the perceived child benefits of ASF differed across zones (P<0·001). Households with caregivers belonging to the highest tertile of nutrition knowledge and attitude scores consumed more diverse diets compared with those of caregivers in the lowest tertile group (11·2 (sd 2·2) v. 10·0 (sd 2·4); P<0·001). After controlling for the effect of agro-ecological zone, caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and feeding attitudes positively predicted household dietary diversity and the frequency and diversity of children’s ASF intakes (P<0·001). The number of years of formal education of caregivers also positively predicted household dietary diversity and children’s ASF diversity (P<0·001). A key component to improving child nutrition is to understand the context-specific nutrition knowledge and feeding attitudes in order to identify relevant interventions.

scholarly journals Relationship between caregivers' income generation activities and their children's animal source food intake

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (49) ◽  
pp. 5746-5758
Author(s):  
AK Christian ◽  
◽  
A Lartey ◽  
EK Colecraft ◽  
GS Marquis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Food Record ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Animal Source Food

Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Food Management (ENAM) project provided financial and technical support for caregivers’ Income Generation Activities (IGA) with the aim of increasing their access to Animal Source Foods (ASF) for improved child nutrition. Using baseline data from the ENAM project, this study assessed the relationship between the type of caregivers’ IGA -whether it is related to ASF [ASF-R] or unrelated [ASF-U] - and the quantity and diversity of ASF consumed by their children. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on household socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and children’s ASF consumption in the past week from 530 caregivers of children 2-to5 years old in 12 communities in three agro-ecological zones of Ghana. A weighed food record of children’s dietary intakes was also completed during two 12-hour home observations on a randomly selected sample of 117 children. Approximately 6% (n=32) of caregivers were not engaged in any IGA. Of the caregivers who were involved in an IGA (n=498), approximately one-third of them were engaged in an ASF-R IGA, such as selling smoked fish, selling eggs and the selling cooked food that included ASF. Caregivers (67%) were engaged in ASF-U IGA, such as crop farming, petty trading in non ASF items and artisanal work. The quantity and diversity of ASF consumed by the children did not differ (p=0.988 and p=0.593, respectively) by the type of caregiver IGA. However, after accounting for agro-ecological zone, being involved in an ASF-R IGA positively predicted children’s ASF diversity (p<0.001). The number of children in the household negatively predicted children’s ASF diversity (p=0.011) whereas high/medium household wealth status tended to be positively associated with ASF diversity (p=0.064).The study suggested that there is need to promote ASF-R IGA among caregivers to increase the ability to purchase more varied and nutritious food items for improving children’s growth.

scholarly journals Consumer perceptions of food safety in animal source foods choice and consumption in Nairobi’s informal settlements

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salome A. Bukachi ◽  
Mariah Ngutu ◽  
Ann W. Muthiru ◽  
Aurélia Lépine ◽  
Suneetha Kadiyala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Animal Source Foods ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Urban Informal Settlements

Abstract Background Animal-source foods (ASFs) are high-quality nutrient-dense products key to reducing stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. However, their consumption among the poorest households in urban informal settlements is low. Several drivers beyond price, including health considerations have been reported to drive ASF choice and consumption among consumers. This current study explores consumer perceptions of food safety associated with animal source foods (ASFs) consumption in urban informal settlements with a view to unpacking the health considerations driving their choice and consumption. Methods Coupled households with children 6–59 months formed the study sample. The Food Environments Working Group (FEWG) Framework of the Agriculture and Nutrition for Health academy (ANH) was used to guide the study which utilized qualitative methods namely, 60 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 19 focus group discussions, and 19 key informant interviews (KIIs) complemented by unstructured observations. Data were transcribed and analysed according to emerging themes. Results Consumer perceptions of food safety are driven by concerns about food production, processing, handling, storage and the health risks associated with consumption of the ASFs. For all the ASFs, lack of traceability of source, unhygienic environments in which they were sold and health risks around consuming too much or improperly cooked products were key perceptions from the community. To mitigate against food safety risks, consumers used strategies such as boiling the ASFs, purchasing their products from trusted retailers, avoiding vendors in unhygienic environments and reducing the amount and frequency of consumption of ASFs or totally avoiding their consumption. These consumer perceptions are increasingly influencing the ASFs choice and consumption in low-income populations besides other drivers. Notably, given limited incomes that influence their purchasing power and the need for nutritious diets that included ASFs, the dilemma of quality vis-a-vis quantity persists and consumers still accessed and consumed these ASF products to supplement their diets. Conclusions To enhance food safety for ASFs, as well as assure consumer access to safe ASFs from informal markets, there is need to contextualize the value chain as informed by consumer perceptions on food safety as these influence their ASFs choice and consumption.

scholarly journals Factors associated with serious psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide cross-sectional internet-based study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e051115
Author(s):  
Takashi Yoshioka ◽  
Ryo Okubo ◽  
Takahiro Tabuchi ◽  
Satomi Odani ◽  
Tomohiro Shinozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Serious Psychological Distress ◽  
Sampling Weights ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Caregiving Burden ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Factors Associated

ObjectiveTo investigate the factors associated with serious psychological distress (SPD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.DesignNationwide cross-sectional study using survey data.SettingInternet survey using sampling weights for national estimates conducted between 25 August and 30 September 2020 in Japan.ExposuresDemographics (age, gender), socioeconomic status (income level, employment type, educational attainment, marital status, family composition and caregiving burden); the experience of domestic violence (DV), the state of emergency and fear of and stigma related to COVID-19.Main outcome measuresPrevalence of SPD, defined as Kessler 6 Scale score ≥13.ResultsAmong 25 482 respondents, 10.0% met the criteria of SPD. Overall, women (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.59; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.16; p=0.003), ages 15–29 (aOR 2.35 compared with ages 45–59 years; 95% CI 1.64 to 3.38; p<0.001), low-income level (aOR 1.70 compared with intermediate income; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.49; p=0.007), providing caregiving to family members (aOR 5.48; 95% CI 3.51 to 8.56; p<0.001), experiencing DV (aOR 5.72; 95% CI 3.81 to 8.59; p<0.001) and fear of COVID-19 (aOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.55 to 2.48; p<0.001) were associated with SPD. Among women aged 15–29 years, who have a higher risk of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, caregiving, DV, fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19-related stigma were associated with SPD.ConclusionsEconomic situation, caregiving burden, DV and fear of COVID-19 were independently associated with SPD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among young women, similar factors, except economic situation, were associated with SPD. Targeted interventions based on age and gender may be more effective in mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population’s mental health.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional study of drivers of animal-source food consumption in low-income urban areas of Nairobi, Kenya

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Cornelsen ◽  
Pablo Alarcon ◽  
Barbara Häsler ◽  
Djesika D. Amendah ◽  
Elaine Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Animal Source ◽  
Animal Source Food
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