Topical Area: Community and Public Health Nutrition

Objectives :

The objectives of impact evaluation were to assess the prevalence and impact of nutrition-based supplementation on stunting in children under-five year of age.

Methods : Baseline and endline surveys on a sub-set of population in 2014 and 2017 were conducted in two districts of Sindh, Pakistan. Children 6-23 months received a daily ration of 50 g/day of lipid based nutrient supplement-medium quality (LNS-MQ). Children aged 24-59 months received a micronutrient powder sachet containing the RDA for 15 micronutrients every alternate day for at least 6 months.

Results : 2,195 children at baseline and  2,923 at endline were included in analysis. A significant reduction of 10% (45% at baseline; 40% at endline; p=0.003) was observed in the stunting prevalence among children 6-59 months in intervention areas, but only a 2% reduction (52% at baseline; 51% at endline; p=0.46) was noted in control areas. There was a significant reduction of 8% in the prevalence of underweight in intervention areas (35% at baseline; 32% at endline; p=0.05) and a 2% reduction in control areas (45% at baseline; 43% at endline; p=0.44). Reductions in the anemia prevalence in children 6-59 months was significant in intervention and control areas (p< 0.001). There was a significant decrease of 13% in anemia prevalence (88% at baseline; 75% at endline; p< 0.001) in intervention areas. An 11% reduction in the anemia prevalence was observed in children 6-59 months (87% at baseline; 77% at endline; p< 0.001) in control areas.

Conclusions : The significant 10% reduction in the stunting prevalence shows the ability of nutrition-based supplementation in achieving nutrition gains in the short term in children 6-59 months through the primary healthcare system. This is an effective method to protect children from stunting caused by food insecurity and limited access to age-appropriate nutritious foods in Pakistan and similar settings.

Funding Sources : World Food Programme, Pakistan

Presenting Author(s)

• SK

  Sumra Kureishy

  WFP, Islamabad

Co-Author(s)

• GN

  Gul Nawaz

  Aga Khan University

• SA

  Shabina Ariff

  Associate Professor
  Aga Khan University

• AH

  Atif Habib

  Assistant Professor
  Aga Khan University

• CG

  Cecilia Garzon

  World Food Program

• YI

  Yasir Ihtesham

  WFP, Islamabad

• AK

  Ali Ahmad Khan

  WFP, Islamabad

• MS

  Muhammad Sajid

  Aga Khan University

• IA

  Imran Ahmed

  Aga Khan University

• SS

  Sajid Soofi

  Aga Khan University