Abstract
BackgroundIn 2014, an intervention aimed at increasing the oil in corn soy blend (CSB) porridge prepared by caregivers of children with moderate acute malnutrition was implemented in Southern Malawi. This analysis describes the flow of key messages delivered through the Care Group model during this intervention.MethodsThe intervention provided a supplementary food ration of CSB and oil and used a Care Group model in which healthcare workers were trained to deliver social and behavior change communication (SBCC) to care group volunteers who then delivered messages to caregivers of beneficiary children. Healthcare workers also delivered messages to caregivers directly. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with all three groups in order to determine the exchange of key messages about ingredient use, storage, and purpose, which were analyzed descriptively.ResultsAnalysis of SBCC flow and information exchange showed that 100% of caregivers reported learning about the amounts of oil and CSB to use while preparing porridge and over 90% of caregivers, healthcare workers, and care group volunteers reported talking about it. Focus groups confirmed an effective flow of communication among these three groups.ConclusionThis analysis evaluated the flow of key SBCC messages through multiple, overlapping lines of communication among healthcare workers, care group volunteers, and caregivers; the effective transmission of these SBCC messages through this model may contribute to the success of a supplementary feeding intervention program.Trial registrationThe study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01873196).
Highlights
In 2014, an intervention aimed at increasing the oil in corn soy blend (CSB) porridge prepared by caregivers of children with moderate acute malnutrition was implemented in Southern Malawi
The social and behavior change communication (SBCC) message on the amount of ingredients to use was reported to be received by 99% of caregivers; while healthcare workers and care group volunteers reported lower rates of communicating this topic with caregivers, the overlapping lines of communication may have resulted in the caregivers’ level of reported receipt being so high
Only 25% of caregivers reported having a home visit; of these visits, 57% reported receiving them from care group volunteers, and 100% reported receiving these visits from healthcare workers
Summary
In 2014, an intervention aimed at increasing the oil in corn soy blend (CSB) porridge prepared by caregivers of children with moderate acute malnutrition was implemented in Southern Malawi. This analysis describes the flow of key messages delivered through the Care Group model during this intervention. Treatment of MAM frequently relies on distribution of nutrient-dense supplementary foods, such as corn soy blend (CSB), to households with affected children. A study in Thailand found that health education messages can improve various health outcomes, including nutritional status, whether the subjects received supplementary food or not [8]. Other studies have found efficacy in nutritional education in improving health status of children
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