Normal user
13 May 2017, 12:26
Dear all,
Please Help. Is there a specific minimum duration at which there should be a significant improvement in nutritional status indicators (WHZ, WAZ, HAZ, MUAC, Hb, etc.) for children under 2 years after their mothers have been given nutrition education on appropriate nutrition care practices?
Is there any research indicating this?
I’m counting on your usual expert contributions. Thank you.
African Studies Center, Leiden University
Normal user
15 May 2017, 15:27
Hi Edem,
The literature I am reading tells me there is no specific minimum duration. Sometimes institutions may set such a duration, especially when the education/counseling takes place in a residential setting and there is high demand for the facilities. However the response rates for this type of intervention are so variable that it would seem very simplistic to specify limits.
Moreover there is quite a lot in the literature that indicates the effects of nutrition education are not very enduring.
If you can find it, you might want to look at what is now quite an old book: Hoorweg & Neimeijer, Intervention in Child Nutrition: Evaluation Studies in Kenya (1989). It contains quite a lot on the short & long-term effectiveness of nutrition education/counseling in a variety of settings.
Cheers Bill
Normal user
15 May 2017, 19:40
Thank you so much Bill. I'm grateful.