Explaining nutrition outcomes of food-based interventions through an analysis of women's decision-making power

Abstract

Community-based nutrition program interventions have yielded measurable nutrition results. These interventions engage community members in and throughout the process to ensure that the interventions are acceptable and appropriate. Despite this, hunger and other forms of malnutrition continue to be problematic-- for some individuals, in some communities and in some regions. Current development discourse on agency and capabilities, and power and choices suggests an approach for achieving further improvements. Five community-based intervention research studies that strengthened women's contributions to nutrition by reducing their resource constraints are reviewed in light of this discourse. All five used food-based strategies that yielded improvements in micronutrient dietary intake or status in a timely fashion. Although the studies were guided by standard development practices including participatory approaches and methods, and addressed women's resource needs, they differed significantly in terms of the locus of decision-making power. This retrospective analysis suggests that nutrition programs could enhance their outcomes by investing in women's agency and decision-making power, and contribute to realizing the rights of all to development.