Impact Evaluation of a Comprehensive Nutrition Program for Reducing Stunting in Children Aged 6 23 Months in Rural Malawi.
BACKGROUND The prevalence of stunting in central rural Malawi is ~50% which prompted a multipronged nutrition program in 1 district from 2014 to 2016. The program distributed a daily, fortified, small quantity lipid based nutritional supplement, providing 110 kcal and 2.6 g of protein to children aged 6 23 mo, and behavior change messages around optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and water, sanitation, and hygiene. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to perform an impact evaluation of the program using a neighboring district as comparison. METHODS Using a quasi experimental study design, with cross sectional baseline (January March, 2014; n 2404) and endline (January March, 2017; n 2453) surveys, we evaluated the program's impact using a neighboring district as comparison. Impact on stunting was estimated using propensity score weighted difference in differences regression analyses to account for baseline differences between districts. RESULTS No differences in mean length for age z score or prevalence of stunting were found at endline. However, mean weight, weight for length z score, and mid upper arm circumference were higher at endline by 150 g, 0.22, and 0.19 cm, respectively, in the program compared with the comparison district (all P 0.05) Weekly reports of high fever and malaria were also lower by 6.4 and 4.7 percentage points, respectively, in the program compared with the comparison district (both P 0.05) There was no impact on anemia. Children's dietary diversity score improved by 0.17, and caregivers' infant and young child feeding and hand washing practices improved by 8 11% in the program compared with the comparison district (all P 0.05) CONCLUSIONS An impact evaluation of a comprehensive nutrition program in rural Malawi demonstrated benefit for child ponderal growth and health, improved maternal IYCF and hand washing practices, but a reduction in stunting prevalence was not observed.
The Journal of nutrition