Centre for Studies in Economics and Planning, Central University of Gujarat, Gujarat, India.
School of Liberal Education, FLAME University, Lavale, Maharashtra, India.
PLoS One. 2022 Mar 3;17(3):e0264567. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264567. eCollection 2022.
Dietary intake is a fundamental determinant of maternal and child nutrition. This paper presents evidence on whether maternal and child dietary diversity can be improved with systemic improvements focused on strengthening training, capacity building, and behavior change communication among frontline workers to encourage improved nutritional practices among mothers and children in the intervention area. The evidence is derived from Project Spotlight intervention that was jointly implemented by Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra and Tata Trusts in tribal dominated Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts in Maharashtra. Based on a pre-post comparison of baseline (2019) and endline (2021) household survey data it is confirmed that there is a significant association between maternal and child dietary diversity in the study area. Notably, dietary diversity in mother-child dyads is marked with a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as eggs and flesh foods. Econometric analysis further reveals that the association between maternal and child dietary diversity has improved after the systems strengthening interventions. The paper concludes that local interventions such as Project Spotlight for strengthening counselling services and coverage by frontline workers and enhancing knowledge and awareness on maternal and child dietary diversity among communities are important for improving maternal and child nutrition.
饮食摄入是母婴营养的基本决定因素。本文介绍了是否可以通过系统的改善来提高母婴饮食多样性的证据，这些改善的重点是加强一线工作人员的培训、能力建设和行为改变沟通，以鼓励干预地区的母亲和儿童改善营养习惯。这些证据来自于由马哈拉施特拉邦妇女和儿童发展部与塔塔信托共同实施的“聚光灯项目”干预，该项目在马哈拉施特拉邦的加德奇罗利和钱德拉布尔部落地区开展。基于基线（2019 年）和终线（2021 年）家庭调查数据的前后比较，确认了研究区域母婴饮食多样性之间存在显著关联。值得注意的是，母婴对子的饮食多样性标志着水果、蔬菜、鸡蛋和肉类食物的消费增加。计量经济学分析进一步表明，在系统强化干预之后，母婴饮食多样性之间的关联有所改善。本文得出结论，加强咨询服务和一线工作人员覆盖范围的地方性干预措施，如“聚光灯项目”，以及提高社区对母婴饮食多样性的知识和认识，对于改善母婴营养非常重要。
