Objectives
Utilizing locally available foods and transfer resources (food/ cash)and vegetable production andcoupled with optimalMaternal and Child feeding practices sustainable ways of preventing malnutrition in settings were food resources are limited.
Methods
The introduction and scale up of key-hole gardens that recycle waste water is linked to a package of other interventions that ensure year-round availability and intake of micronutrient-rich foods in poor households. The program encouraged and supported the production of a variety of nutrient dense vegetables using key-hole and home gardens, nutrition behavior change education using key ENA messages emphasizing on dietary diversification, food preparation, food safety, preservation of vegetables, and optimal breastfeeding linked safety net program that provide conditional cash/food transfer to thepoor beneficiaries. The existing community based service delivery platform were used forawareness creation, sensitization, referral and linkages that ledto increased consumption of diversified diet.
Results
The regular LQAS KPC monitoring survey findings highlighted improved feeding and caring practices among mothers of children under-five. Mothers’ knowledge on exclusive breast feeding and timely and appropriate complementary feeding increased from 57.5% & 45 % in 2012 to 71.4 % &76% respectively. Regular monitoring thought the Positive Deviance Inquiry (PDI) reported changes in the attitudes of community and discovered desirable positive and successful behaviors among women and men ranging from optimal feeding and caring to health seeking behavior and essential hygiene practices resulting in improved nutrition and food security.
Conclusions
Homestead vegetable production improved household food availability and dietary diversity and this was considered as one of the most sustainable solutions to address micronutrient deficiencies.
