Changing Nutrition Behavior in Bangladesh: Successful Adaptation of New Theories and Anthropological Methods*

Abstract

Behavior change theories and a positive deviance approach were used to improve child nutrition through home gardening groups in Bangladesh. Groups were assigned randomly to: (T1) individual, stage-based, role-model stories delivered by a literate agent; (T2) role-model stories told by illiterate garden group leaders at meetings; or (T3) no intervention. Four months later, 31% of the T1 mothers demonstrated feeding correct portions of vegetables to young children. Only 15% of T2 and 17% of T3 mothers could do this. Group Leaders did create awareness and spread information; a personal contact was helpful for changing attitudes and portion size.