Evidence - SBC Impact
Compelling, credible, recent, direct impact data
Evidence - SBC Impact
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Impact of a positive deviance approach to improve the effectiveness of an iron-supplementation program to control nutritional anemia among rural Senegalese pregnant women

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Ndiaye, M., K. Siekmans, et al. (2009). "Impact of a positive deviance approach to improve the effectiveness of an iron-supplementation program to control nutritional anemia among rural Senegalese pregnant women." Food and Nutrition Bulletin 30(2): 128-136.

BACKGROUND: Iron supplementation through prenatal care remains the most widespread strategy to control anemia during pregnancy, but its effectiveness is only partial, showing the need to address other approaches.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to measure the impact of a positive deviance approach to improve an iron-supplementation program among pregnant women in a rural Senegalese area.

METHODS: A positive deviance approach (PD Micah) was compared with an ongoing integrated nutrition and health program intervention (Micah) in a rural Senegalese area. A pre-post evaluation was conducted using independent cross-sectional samples with a total of 371 pregnant women. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered, and biologic and anthropometric measurements were performed.

RESULTS: After 9 months of activities, the mean hemoglobin level rose from 93.9 to 100.7 g/L in the PD Micah group. Distribution of iron supplements through community volunteers and implementation of healthy pregnancy promotion sessions on a monthly basis improved the accessibility to 23.3% in the PD Micah group. No significant change was observed in the Micah group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significantly reduced risk of anemia in the PD Micah area (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.53).

CONCLUSIONS: This intervention shows that a community-based strategy, such as the positive deviance approach, can contribute to improving the effectiveness of iron supplementation during pregnancy.

Why the focus on direct impact data?

A common challenge from policy makers, funders, community members, people directly experiencing development issues, and governments is: Demonstrate your Impact. Prove that what you are doing works. The high quality, highly credible data presented on the cards below is designed to help you answer that question for your social change, behaviour change, community engagement, communication and media for development, strategy formulation, policy engagement and funding initiatives. At this link filter the research data to your specific interests and priorities

Why a playing cards design?

There is a physical pack of cards with this data (to get a copy please request through the comment form for any card). The card approach allows for easy identification and selection of relevant direct impact data in any context. For example if talking with a donor and you need to identify proof of impact say "take a look at the 7 of Hearts". Quick access can be provided to high-quality data for many areas of your work – funding, planning, policy, advocacy, community dialogue, training, partner engagement, and more. A card deck is also engaging, easy to use and share, a conversation starter, and a resource - and they are fun and different. So we kept that design for the online images as it can serve similar purposes. 

What are the criteria for inclusion?

The impact data presented meets the following high standard for inclusion criteria:

  • Positive change or trend in a priority development issue;
  • Social change or behaviour change strategy or process;
  • Randomized Control Trial or Systematic Review methodology;
  • High quality peer review journal published;
  • Numeric impact data point
  • Published since 2010.