Improving maternal, infant and young child nutrition in Nepal via peer mobilization.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a peer facilitator (PF) approach for improving mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design nested within a large-scale integrated nutrition programme, Suaahara, in Nepal. Suaahara interventions were implemented in all study sites, but peer facilitators were used in only half of the study sites. SETTING: Rural, disadvantaged villages in three districts of Nepal Bhojpur, Bajhang and Rupandehi. SUBJECTS: Mothers of children aged 6-23·9 months (n 1890). RESULTS: Differences over time between comparison (C) and intervention (I) groups show that the PF approach had a significant positive impact on several indicators of mothers' knowledge and practices relating to maternal and child nutrition (i) knowing that fruits and vegetables are good for children 6-23·9 months (C -0·7, I 10·6; P=0·03); (ii) child dietary diversity (C 0·02, I 0·04; P=0·02); (iii) child minimum dietary diversity (≥4 of 7 food groups; (C 6·9, I 16·0; P=0·02); (iv) maternal dietary diversity (C 0·1, I 0·4; P=0·01); and (v) maternal minimum dietary diversity (≥4 food groups; C 3·6, I 14·0; P=0·03). Additionally, exposure to a PF three or more times in the past 6 months was positively associated with a small improvement in maternal (ß=0·06, P=0·04) and child (ß=0·06, P=0·02) dietary diversity scores. Improvements were not observed in maternal health-seeking behaviours such as number of antenatal care visits. CONCLUSIONS: Peer mobilization is a potential approach for improving health- and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviours among women in hard-to-reach communities of Nepal.