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How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Child stunting and linear growth faltering have declined over the past few decades and several countries have made exemplary progress. OBJECTIVES:To synthesize findings from mixed methods studies of exemplar countries to provide guidance on how to accelerate reduction in child stunting. METHODS:We did a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of findings from existing literature and 5 exemplar country studies (Nepal, Ethiopia, Peru, Kyrgyz Republic, Senegal). Methodology included 4 broad research activities: 1) a series of descriptive analyses of cross-sectional data from demographic and health surveys and multiple indicator cluster surveys; 2) multivariable analysis of quantitative drivers of change in linear growth; 3) interviews and focus groups with national experts and community stakeholders and mothers; and 4) a review of policy and program evolution related to nutrition. RESULTS:Several countries have dramatically reduced child stunting prevalence, with or without closing geographical, economic, and other population inequalities. Countries made progress through interventions from within and outside the health sector, and despite significant heterogeneity and differences in context, contributions were comparable from health and nutrition sectors (40% of change) and other sectors (50%), previously called nutrition-specific and -sensitive strategies. Improvements in maternal education, maternal nutrition, maternal and newborn care, and reductions in fertility/reduced interpregnancy intervals were strong contributors to change. A roadmap to reducing child stunting at scale includes several steps related to diagnostics, stakeholder consultations, and implementing direct and indirect nutrition interventions related to the health sector and nonhealth sector . CONCLUSIONS:Our results show that child stunting reduction is possible even in diverse and challenging contexts. We propose that our framework of organizing nutrition interventions as direct/indirect and inside/outside the health sector should be considered when mapping causal pathways of child stunting and planning interventions and strategies to accelerate stunting reduction to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

SUBMITTER: Bhutta ZA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7487427 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries.

Bhutta Zulfiqar A ZA Akseer Nadia N Keats Emily C EC Vaivada Tyler T Baker Shawn S Horton Susan E SE Katz Joanne J Menon Purnima P Piwoz Ellen E Shekar Meera M Victora Cesar C Black Robert R

The American journal of clinical nutrition 20200901 Suppl 2

<h4>Background</h4>Child stunting and linear growth faltering have declined over the past few decades and several countries have made exemplary progress.<h4>Objectives</h4>To synthesize findings from mixed methods studies of exemplar countries to provide guidance on how to accelerate reduction in child stunting.<h4>Methods</h4>We did a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of findings from existing literature and 5 exemplar country studies (Nepal, Ethiopia, Peru, Kyrgyz Republic, Senegal). Meth ...[more]

PMID: 32692800

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Project description:BackgroundSeveral countries have notably reduced childhood stunting relative to economic growth over the past 15-20 y. The Exemplars in Stunting Reduction project, or "Exemplars," studies success factors among these countries with a lens toward replicability.ObjectivesThis paper details the standardized mixed-methods framework for studying determinants of childhood stunting reduction applied in Exemplars studies.MethodsAn expert technical advisory group (TAG), criteria for identifying Exemplar countries, evidence-based frameworks, mixed methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, policy, literature review), effective research partnerships, case study process and timeline, and data triangulation and corroboration are presented.ResultsExperts in health, nutrition, and evaluation methods were selected at the study outset to provide technical support to all phases of research (TAG). Exemplar countries were selected by the TAG, who considered quantitative data (e.g., annual rates of stunting change compared with economic growth, country population size) and qualitative insights (e.g., logistics of country work, political stability). Experienced country research partners were selected and an inception meeting with stakeholder consultations was held to launch research and garner support. Evidence-based conceptual frameworks underpinned all Exemplars research activities. A systematic review of published peer-reviewed and grey literature was undertaken, along with in-depth policy and program analysis of nutrition-specific and -sensitive investments. Both descriptive and advanced quantitative analysis was undertaken (e.g., equity analyses, difference-in-difference regression, Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition). Qualitative data collection using in-depth interviews and focus groups was conducted with national and community stakeholders (i.e., child care workers and mothers) to understand country experiences. The case study process was iterative, and all research outputs were triangulated to develop the stunting reduction narrative for each country. Findings were shared with country experts for weigh-in and corroboration through dissemination events.ConclusionsExemplars research uses a mixed-methods framework for studying positive outliers that can be applied across diverse health and development outcomes.

Project description:Importance:Evidence on the relative importance of various factors associated with child anthropometric failures (ie, stunting, underweight, and wasting) and their heterogeneity across countries can inform global and national health agendas. Objective:To assess the relative significance of factors associated with child anthropometric failures in 35 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Design, Setting, and Participants:This cross-sectional study of 299?353 children who were born singleton and aged 12 to 59 months with nonpregnant mothers and valid anthropometric measures assessed the strengths of associations of 26 factors with child stunting, underweight, and wasting, using Demographic and Health Surveys (2007-2018) from 35 LMICs. Data analysis was conducted from July 2019 to February 2020. Exposures:A total of 9 direct factors (ie, dietary diversity score; breastfeeding initiation; vitamin A supplements; use of iodized salt; infectious disease in past 2 weeks; oral rehydration therapy for children with diarrhea; care seeking for suspected pneumonia; full vaccination; and indoor pollution) and 17 indirect factors (household wealth; maternal and paternal education; maternal and paternal height and body mass index; maternal autonomy for health care, movement, and money; water source; sanitation facility; stool disposal; antenatal care; skilled birth attendant at delivery; family planning needs; and maternal marriage age) were assessed. Main Outcomes and Measures:Three anthropometric failure outcomes were constructed based on the 2006 World Health Organization child growth standards: stunting (height-for-age z score less than -2 standard deviations [SDs]), underweight (weight-for-age z score less than -2 SDs), and wasting (weight-for-height z score less than -2 SDs). Results:Among the 299?353 children aged 12 to 59 months included in the analysis, 38.8% (95% CI, 38.6%-38.9%) had stunting, 27.5% (95% CI, 27.3%-27.6%) had underweight, and 12.9% (95% CI, 12.8%-13.0%) had wasting. In the pooled sample, short maternal height was the strongest factor associated with child stunting (odds ratio [OR], 4.7; 95% CI, 4.5-5.0; P?<?.001), followed by lack of maternal education (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.8-2.0; P?<?.001), poorest household wealth (OR, 1.7; 95% CI,1.6-1.8; P?<?.001), and low maternal body mass index (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.6-1.7; P?<?.001). Short paternal height was also significantly associated with higher odds of stunting (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.2; P?<?.001). Consistent results were found for underweight (eg, short maternal height: OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 3.3-3.7; P?<?.001; lack of maternal education: OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.7-2.0; P?<?.001) and wasting (eg, low maternal body mass index: OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 2.1-2,4; P?<?.001; poorest household wealth: OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; P?<?.001). Parental nutritional status and household socioeconomic conditions ranked the strongest (1st to 4th) for most countries, with a few exceptions (eg, lack of maternal education ranked 18th-20th in 8 countries for child wasting). Other factors were not associated with anthropometric failures in pooled analysis and had large country-level heterogeneity; for example, unsafe water was not associated with child underweight in the pooled analysis (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-1.00; P?<?.001), and it ranked from 4th to 20th across countries. Conclusions and Relevance:In this study, socioeconomic conditions and parental nutritional status were the strongest factors associated with child anthropometric failures. Poverty reduction, women's education, and nutrition programs for households could be important strategies for reducing child undernutrition; however, country-specific contexts should be considered in national policy discussions.

Project description:BackgroundChild health indicators have substantially improved across the last decade, yet Afghanistan has among the highest child stunting and malnutrition rates in Asia. Multisectoral approaches were recently introduced but evidence for this approach to improve support for and implementation of child nutrition programmes is limited compared to other countries.MethodsWe reviewed policy and programme data to identify best practices and gaps surrounding child malnutrition in Afghanistan. We conducted a scoping review using broad search categories and approaches, including database and website searches, reference hand-searches, purposive policy and programme document request, and key informant interviews. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed iteratively, with abstracts and documents assessed against the final criteria. We abstracted documents systematically and summarised and synthesised content to generate the main findings.ResultsWe included 18 policies and strategies, 45 data sources and reports, and 20 intervention evaluations. Movement towards multisectoral efforts to address malnutrition at the policy level has started; however, integrated nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions are not yet uniformly delivered at the community level. Many data sources capturing nutrition, food security and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) indicators are available but indicator definitions are not standardised and there are few longitudinal nutrition surveys. Political will to improve household nutrition status has shown increased government and donor investments in nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programmes through combined small- and large-scale interventions between 2004 and 2013; however, evidence for interventions that effectively decrease stunting prevalence is limited.ConclusionsThis review shows a breadth of nutrition programme, policy and data in Afghanistan. Multisector approaches faced challenges of reaching sufficient coverage as they often included a package of food security, livelihoods and health interventions but were each implemented independently. Further implementation evidence is needed to aid policy and programmes on effective integration of nutrition, food security and WASH in Afghanistan.

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How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries.

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How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries.

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