Abstract
BackgroundLow-quality diets contribute to the burden of malnutrition and increase the risk of children not achieving their developmental potential. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture programs address the underlying determinants of malnutrition, though their contributions to improving diets do not factor into current nutrition impact modeling tools.ObjectiveTo synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of nutrition-sensitive agriculture programs in improving dietary diversity in young children (6-23.9 months and 6-60 months).MethodsA literature search was conducted for published trials through existing systematic reviews and individual database search of the ISI Web of Science. All dietary diversity measures in the studies selected to be in the analysis were extracted. Estimation of main pooled effects were conducted on outcomes of minimum diet diversity (MDD) and diet diversity score (DDS) using random-effects meta-regression models. We report pooled effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMDs) or odds ratios (ORs).ResultsNutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions have a significant positive impact on the diet diversity scores of children aged 6-23.9 months (SMD = 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09-0.36) and on the odds of reaching minimum diet diversity (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.76). Similar impacts are found when analyses are expanded to include studies for children aged 6-60 months (DDS SMD = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.12-0.32) (MDD OR = 1.64, 95% CI: = 1.38-1.94).ConclusionNutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions consistently have a positive impact on child dietary diversity. Incorporating this evidence in nutrition modeling tools can contribute to decision-making on the relative benefits of nutrition-sensitive interventions as compared with other maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition (MNCHN) interventions.
Highlights
MethodsA literature search was conducted for published trials through existing systematic reviews and an individual database search of the ISI Web of Science
Low-quality diets contribute to the burden of malnutrition and increase the risk of children not achieving their developmental potential
Similar impacts are found when analyses are expanded to include studies for children aged 6-60 months (DDS standardized mean differences (SMDs) = 0.22, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.12-0.32) (MDD odds ratios (ORs) = 1.64, 95% CI: = 1.38-1.94)
Summary
A literature search was conducted for published trials through existing systematic reviews and an individual database search of the ISI Web of Science. We utilized terms to refine our search to evaluations of programs that included at least one nutrition outcome. The search terms included AND nutrition AND several specific diet and nutrition outcomes separated by OR. For those interventions we considered nutrition-sensitive agriculture programs, the more specific search terms included [biofortification OR “agricultur* extension” OR livestock OR (agriculture* AND dairy) OR “home* garden*” OR “homestead food production”]. We used search terms for anthropometric measures, anemia and micronutrient status. We did not use nutrition outcomes beyond diets in this study
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