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Nutrition and Health Behaviour Change Communication, along with Home Visits - 15.9 Percentage Point Reduction in Diarrhoea

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Strategy researched

Agriculture production activities integrated with nutrition and health behaviour change communication (BCC), along with home visits by either an older woman leader or health committee member

Impact achieved

The study found statistically significant (P < 0.05) impacts on diarrhoea (difference-in-difference (DID): -15.9 percentage points (pp); P = 0.00) among children aged 3-12.9 months and on anaemia (DID: -14.6 pp; P = 0.03) and mean hemoglobin (Hb) (DID: 0.74 grams per decilitre (g/dL); P = 0.03) among children aged 3-5.9 months in intervention communities compared with control villages. It also found marginally significant (P < 0.10) impacts on mean Hb (DID: 0.51 g/dL; P = 0.07) and wasting (DID: -8.8 pp; P = 0.08).

Country of study

Burkina Faso

Research methodology

Cluster RCT

Journal

Journal of Nutrition; 2015

Journal paper title and link

A 2-Year Integrated Agriculture and Nutrition and Health Behavior Change Communication Program Targeted to Women in Burkina Faso Reduces Anemia, Wasting, and Diarrhea in Children 3-12.9 Months of Age at Baseline: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Excerpt from Abstract

"HKI [Helen Keller International]'s 2-y integrated HFP [homestead food production] +BCC program (HC group) significantly improved several child outcomes, including wasting (marginal), diarrhea, Hb, and anemia, especially among the youngest children. This is the first cluster-randomized controlled trial of an HFP program that documents statistically significant positive effects on these child nutrition outcomes."

Summary at this link

 

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.