Using Health Management Information Systems Data to Contextualize Survey-Based Estimates of Fertility, Mortality, and Wasting
Demographic and Health Surveys Program, April 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
To better understand the validity of DHS Program estimates and trends of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition outcomes, the authors examined the use of routine health facility data to contextualize estimates of fertility, maternal mortality, under-5 mortality, and wasting. They concluded that outcomes must be triangulated with multiple indicators to accurately contextualize them within health systems and non-health systems factors.
Using Height-Adjusted Stunting Prevalence Will Fail Disadvantaged Children Worldwide
The Lancet Global Health, May 2022
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
This correspondence is a response to S.V. Subramanian and colleagues’ comment in The Lancet on using stunting to monitor nutrition programs. Adjusting for maternal stature in stunting calculations underestimates the contribution of current deficient conditions to a child's stature and is unethical because it will disincentivize commitments to improve living conditions globally.
Using Household Consumption Data to Flag Low Nutrient Access
Mathiassen, Astrid, Margarita Lovon, Barbara Baille, et al. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, October 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
Practitioners can use consumption frequency based on household data collected in emergency assessments and through monitoring systems as a proxy for approximating access to vitamin A and iron in humanitarian contexts. This article is behind a paywall.
Variability in Haemoglobin Concentration by Measurement Tool and Blood Source: An Analysis from Seven Countries
Rappaport Aviva I., Crystal D. Karakochuk, Sonja Y. Hess, et al. Journal of Clinical Pathology, October 2020
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Research Articles
Analyses found large variability in haemoglobin concentration measured on capillary or venous blood and using HemoCue Hb 201+ or Hb 301 or automated haematology analyser. It is unclear whether the variation is due to differences in equipment, differences in capillary and venous blood, or factors affecting blood collection techniques. Please note that this resource is behind a paywall.
The View from Development Donor Countries, featuring USAID Chief Nutritionist Shawn Baker
Devex, July 2021
Reports and Tools
While evidence-based solutions exist and progress has been made to improve food systems and nutrition, the pandemic has reduced the delivery of nutrition services and has impacted every system that people rely on for good nutrition. In this video interview, USAID Chief Nutritionist Shawn Baker calls for additional work to strengthen food, health, and social protection systems, and the humanitarian response.
Viewpoint: The Case for a Six-Dimensional Food Security Framework
Clapp, Jennifer, William G. Moseley, Barbara Burlingame, et al. Food Policy, January 2022
- Food Systems
Research Articles
This article makes the case for including agency and sustainability in policy frameworks examining food security in addition to availability, access, utilization, and stability. The impact of widening food system inequalities and growing awareness of the connections between ecological and food systems highlight the importance of these dimensions.
Viewpoint: Rigorous Monitoring Is Necessary to Guide Food System Transformation In the Countdown to the 2030 Global Goals
Food Policy, October 2021
- Food Systems
Reports and Tools
Authors propose a rigorous, science-based monitoring framework centered around diets, nutrition, and health; environment and climate; livelihoods, poverty, and equity; governance; and resilience and sustainability.
Violent Conflict and Breastfeeding: The Case of Iraq
Diwakar, Vidya, Michael Malcolm, George Naufal. Conflict and Health, December 2019
- Nutrition in Humanitarian Contexts
Research Articles
Findings from this study suggest that increases in conflict-related casualties reduce the probability of a child ever beginning and continuing breastfeeding, and that infant formula provided to offer temporary relief impact these trends. Adequate health care and breastfeeding support systems for women are critical in conflict zones.
Vitamin A Deficiency Has Declined in Malawi, But with Evidence of Elevated Vitamin A in Children
Williams, Anne M., Sherry A. Tanumihardjo, Elizabeth C. Rhodes, et al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2021
Research Articles
While the use of vitamin A-fortified staple foods and biannual high-dose vitamin A supplementation has led to the near elimination of vitamin A deficiency in Malawi, elevated levels of vitamin A among children suggests that interventions may need modification.
Volunteer Community Health and Agriculture Workers Help Reduce Childhood Malnutrition in Tajikistan
Yorick, Roman, Faridun Khudonazarov, Andrew J. Gall, et al. Global Health: Science and Practice, March 2021
Research Articles
Community volunteers specializing in maternal, newborn, and child health, water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, and agriculture are an effective workforce to improve individual knowledge, attitudes, and practices that result in better nutrition and improve the dietary diversity of women and children.
WASH, Nutrition and Child Growth: Webinar Series for Implementing Partners
PRO-WASH, WASHPaLS and the Clean, Fed, and Nurtured Coalition, April-May 2020
- Early Childhood Development
- Food Systems
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Events
This series of three webinars focuses on the growing body of evidence that persistent exposure to fecal matter causes delays in infant and young child growth and that interventions must go beyond water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to prevent infection. Speakers provide information on pathways of infection and recommend interventions and safe feeding practices, including covering food with fly screens, washing hands before preparing food, handling livestock safely, and feeding children with a utensil rather than by hand.
We Can All Become Food Heroes
FAO, October 2021
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
Students from six countries made a #FoodHeroes music video to discuss how young people can take action to make agri-food systems more sustainable. Their goal is to encourage youth to be change-makers and advocates for a hunger-free and sustainable world.
Webinar Series in Partnership with the DFC Program: Drivers of Food Choice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Synthesis of Evidence
ANH Academy, April 2021
Events
Presenters discuss drivers of individual and household food choice in changing food environments; next steps for application and scaling; and prominent issues and questions confronting policy, practice, and research at the nexus of food environments, nutrition, and health. This is a series of webinars.
Weight Gain during Pregnancy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Alive & Thrive, March 2022
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
The report prevents prevalence data and highlights the need to prioritize inadequate weight gain. It presents current data about monitoring and counseling interventions, discusses the impact of maternal balanced energy and protein supplementation on weight gain, and provides recommendations to strengthen interventions.
What Do You Want To Know? FAO’s New Open Data Policy Makes Fact-Finding and Information Sharing Easier
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, March 2020
- Knowledge Management
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
In January 2020, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) unveiled its open data policy for statistical databases. This article highlights what kinds of information can be found in the databases, including facts on the types of foods consumed globally. For instance, did you know that bananas are the most consumed fruit in the world? The ultimate goal of FAO’s new open data policy is to help governments make informed program, policy, and investment decisions.
What is Child Wasting?
UNICEF, February 2023
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
Authors discuss the scope of child wasting and where it is most common, urge early detection and action, examine the importance of ready-to-use therapeutic food, and outline UNICEF priorities.
What’s the Cost of Evaluations and Other Surveys?
Data for Impact, April 2019
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Reports and Tools
Data for Impact helps countries improve their program design, policies, and overall health outcomes through operationalizing the power of data. In this accessible two-pager, Data for Impact provides program implementers with detailed cost and timeline considerations for incorporating evaluations and surveys into program design.
What’s Next After the “Implementation” COP? Catalyzing Action at the Intersection of Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Systems
Agrilinks, December 2022
- Food Systems
Events
Speakers discuss the food security, nutrition, and water issues highlighted at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference; share examples of how USAID and partners are driving inclusive climate action in agriculture and food systems; and discuss how to support countries that are implementing climate commitments. This webinar includes a slide deck.
When Separation is Not the Answer: Breastfeeding Mothers and Infants Affected by COVID‐19
Tomori, Cecília, Karleen Gribble, Aunchalee E.L. Palmquist, et al. Maternal and Child Nutrition, May 2020
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Research Articles
Although the World Health Organization has provided comprehensive guidance that promotes continued breastfeeding during COVID-19, this article argues countries that have imposed separation and discouraged or prohibited breastfeeding or provision of expressed breastmilk fail to acknowledge the health and psychological impacts of separation.
This article argues that countries have unduly imposed separation between mothers and breastfeeding children, citing the discouragement of breastfeeding or the provision of expressed breastmilk as a failure to acknowledge the health and psychological impacts of separation.
WHO Antenatal Care Recommendations for a Positive Pregnancy Experience: Nutritional Interventions Update: Multiple Micronutrient Supplements during Pregnancy
World Health Organization, 2020
- Nutrition and Health Systems
Reports and Tools
This guideline includes updated recommendations include multiple micronutrient supplements and vitamin D supplements during pregnancy.
WHO Guidelines on Parenting Interventions to Prevent Maltreatment and Enhance Parent–Child Relationships with Children Aged 0–17 Years
World Health Organization, February 2023
- Early Childhood Development
Reports and Tools
These guidelines provide recommendations to reduce child maltreatment and harsh parenting, enhance the parent–child relationship, and prevent poor mental health among parents and emotional and behavioral problems among children. It shares recommended training packages and other resources.
WHO Recommendations on Maternal and Newborn Care for a Positive Postnatal Experience
World Health Organization, March 2022
- Early Childhood Development
Reports and Tools
Recommendations focus on improving the quality of essential, routine postnatal care for women and newborns receiving facility- or community-based care in any resource setting. This report includes accompanying materials.
WHO's Science in 5: Disability and Health Inequity
World Health Organization, February 2023
- Knowledge Management
Reports and Tools
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) die earlier than their nondisabled counterparts; are at twice the risk of suffering from many health conditions; cannot always make their own health care choices; and face stigma and discrimination when seeking healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. To address health inequities, governments and health sector partners must include PWDs and their representative organizations in health program design and implementation. Access the interview as a video or an audio transcript.
Why Are Child Feeding Practices So Tough to Change?
Alive & Thrive Inspire, May 2020
- Early Childhood Development
- Social and Behavior Change and Gender
Reports and Tools
While WHO’s Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child still largely influences the design and implementation of nutrition programs for complementary feeding, implementers—such as caregivers—often face difficulties applying these guidelines to local contexts. This blog discusses the challenges caregivers may face when using complementary feeding methods in their day-to-day lives, including the local food environment, picky eaters, and parenting and feeding styles, among others. Alive & Thrive Inspire invites readers to engage in the conversation surrounding what tools and approaches would be useful for overcoming these challenges.