Feasibility of Integrating Agriculture and Nutrition Behavior Change Interventions with Cash Transfers in Rural Bangladesh: A Mixed-methods Assessment (P10-126-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesThe study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention package that combines nutrition-specific (nutrition counseling) and nutrition-sensitive (counseling and support for agriculture and unconditional cash transfers) interventions delivered on a mobile phone platform for improving maternal and child nutrition behaviors among low-income families in rural Bangladesh. MethodsThe intervention included counseling on homestead gardening techniques and infant feeding by community level agriculture and nutrition workers using smartphone apps. Women received weekly individual counseling at home and group counselling fortnightly. Each participating woman received a monthly unconditional cash transfer of BDT 1200 through a mobile banking system (bKash) for six months. We collect data through in-depth interviews and a cross sectional survey of the participants and their family members. ResultsThe women were interested in both agriculture and nutrition counseling and understood the messages. They established homestead gardens of seasonal vegetables successfully that included preparing beds, planting seedlings, nurturing the plans and harvesting. Seasonal rainfall and damage by hens and ducks were major challenges but most of the families were able to find a solution. Many women preferred to consume the vegetables they produced and spent the cash provided on purchasing other nutritious foods such as fruits, egg and milk for their children as advised in the counseling. The project implementation staff and the bKash agent did not report any difficulties in using the mobile banking system for cash transfer. ConclusionsCombining nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions is a feasible and acceptable approach to the community. Using mobile phone technologies can provide additional benefits for the intervention to reach the disadvantage families in rural settings of Bangladesh. Funding SourcesLeveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia (LANSA).