Effectiveness of a culturally appropriate nutrition educational intervention delivered through health services to improve growth and complementary feeding of infants: A quasi-experimental study from Chandigarh, India

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229755
• Publication Date: 2020-03-17T17:38:17Z
• Authors: Nikita Sharma; Madhu Gupta; Arun Kumar Aggarwal; Mutyalamma Gorle
• Keywords: Nutrition Education

Background Malnutrition is a major public health problem in India, especially among urban poor children. The objective of the study was to determine effectiveness culturally appropriate nutrition educational intervention that can be delivered through services and digitized child undernutrition tracking module for workers improve complementary feeding infants age six months 12 Chandigarh, North prevent malnutrition infants. Methods A quasi-experimental conducted non-randomized (Burail) control area (Maloya) vulnerable population India. mother-infant dyads (MIDs) group(n = 202) received intervention, were supported individually by trained infant followed up months. Health monitored module. MIDs group (n routine care under national program. mean (±S.D.) 5.4 (±0.8) 5.5 (±0.7) months, respectively. data collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire anthropometry at baseline end line. primary outcome change weight. measured conducting difference (DID) analysis weight between group. Result At baseline, 6.6(±0.64) kg 6.6 (±0.52) length 64.3 (±2.0) cm 65.1 (±1.7) Out 404, 190 191 completed study, significantly higher number started on (72.6% versus45.5%, p<0.01) foods having thick consistency (82.1% versus 41.9%, p<-0.01). There significant gain (DID means 0.27 kg, 0.9 cm, from baseline. Also, there decline proportion undernourished (10% versus18.8%, OR 0.47, p 0.01) wasted (7.3% versus15.7%, 0.42, Conclusion Community-based malnourished children effectively growth one year populations.