Objectives
To assess the effect of supplementary feeding using micronutrient fortified blended food in achieving Women Diet Diversity in food insecure and vulnerable household.
Methods
A simple random sampling strategy was applied to provide statistically representative information at district level. Inclusion criteria for the survey was any household from UBUDEHE 1 or 2 (poor and poorest) with children aged 6-23 months in Nyamagabe and Rutsiro districts. 774 children 6-23 months were actually surveyed (including 405 in Nyamagabe and 369 in Rutsiro). Respondents for the interviews were mothers or caregivers of the sampled children.
Results
Proportion of women who achieved MDD-W was similar by district: 21.9% in Nyamagabe and 19.6% in Rutsiro. Women enrolled in SFP were 3 times more likely to meet MDD-W than non-enrolled women (57.1% vs 17.1%). Education was found to be a fundamental aspect of increasing MDD-W through SFP programming. 92% of PLW and child caretakers in both districts knew their ration entitlement, 92% in Nyamagabe and 90% in Rutsiro participated in education sessions about the program in the community before distribution.
Conclusions
Addressing micronutrient deficiency in women through dietary diversity using SFP is essential and effective pathway to enhancing consumption and increasing dietary diversity and protects against cyclical effects of micronutrient deficiency.
