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Author: CRS
County(s):
Isiolo
Marasabit
Technical Area(s):
Animal Health
Breastfeeding
Food Preservation
Gender

Using the Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs) methodology, the USAID Nawiri program explored barriers and opportunities, including food preservation, to improve children’s complementary feeding practices. While meat and milk are preserved during the rainy season, they do not last through the dry season, as many products (goats and sheep) are immediately consumed. Animal migration during the dry season limits household access to meat and milk. In addition, high cost, infrequent market days, and long distances to market inhibit the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, and meat. While unboiled goat and cow milk are often fermented, meat is smoked, fried, or air dried, and fruits and vegetables are not commonly preserved. The most successful TIPs recommendations were increased frequency and amounts of food for young children, increased fruits and vegetables, and stopping feeding unhealthy snacks like commercial fruit juices, soda, biscuits and sweets. Factors such as the lack of foods to preserve, inadequate money to purchase food, contradictory advice from family members, and inadequate time to practice inhibited caregivers from trying some recommendations.

Learning Brief

Full Report(s)

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