An integrated agriculture‐nutrition‐health program increased maternal knowledge on health and nutrition in Western Kenya

Abstract

The Mama SASHA project integrated an orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP)‐focused, agricultural‐nutrition education intervention into delivery of routine health services and pregnant women's clubs. The aim was to improve the diets, nutrition and health of pregnant / lactating women and children. We enrolled 505 women from intervention and control facilities at their first ANC visit in early pregnancy and followed them to 9 months postpartum. The proportion of intervention women who had heard of VA increased significantly from 43% to 75% (p<0.05); no change was observed among controls (24.3% at enrollment and 25.9% at 9 mos). Only 2.6% of enrolled mothers could identify any functions of VA at enrollment; 5% could name 3 VA rich foods. By 9 months postpartum, 10.9% of intervention mothers vs. 4.2% of control mothers, could identify 2 functions of VA (p<0.05); 15% of intervention and 12% of control mothers could identify 3 VA rich foods. Awareness of early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months, continued breastfeeding to 2 years and optimal complementary feeding practices increased in both groups; however the increase in the proportion indicating that mothers should initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth was greater among intervention mothers. There were no differences in knowledge of other infant feeding practices. An integrated agriculture‐nutrition‐health linkages project increased VA knowledge but had limited benefit beyond standard counseling on awareness of other optimal infant and young child feeding practices.