Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Laval, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Vientiane 01030, Laos.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Aug 28;20(17):6662. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20176662.
In several developing countries, such as Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the fight against malnutrition is carried out through programs that involve collaboration between internal (national) and external (international) actors. These actors may have different perceptions on what is one of the pillars of these programs: the empowerment of women, especially mothers of young children. Little is known about these differences and the impact of these differences on the empowerment component of collaborative projects and the perception of its impact on the reduction in malnutrition in the country. A multiple case study was performed. Data collection was carried out in Vientiane Capital and Luangprabang province. The data were obtained from (1) documents, (2) semi-structured interviews with representatives of internal and external organizations, and (3) focus group discussions and individual interviews with mothers of children under five years old. Analysis consisted of characterizing the empowerment component of nutrition programs of internal and external organizations, as well as mothers, based on an OXFAM's adapted conceptual framework on women's economic empowerment. The study revealed a common understanding among government and external organizations regarding the significance of promoting women's empowerment for reducing child malnutrition in Lao PDR. However, variations were observed in the interpretation of specific determinants of women's empowerment, specifically in relation to women's autonomy and the role of social capital. The perspective of internal actors includes the political ideology and traditions that make Lao PDR a distinct country. This perspective dominates the nutrition programs conducted under the collaboration of internal and external actors. In Lao PDR, the concept of women's empowerment in nutrition programs conducted through collaboration between internal and external actors and targeting young Lao mothers gives prominence to political and socio-cultural factors.
在一些发展中国家，如老挝人民民主共和国（老挝），通过涉及内部（国家）和外部（国际）行为者合作的方案来开展消除营养不良的斗争。这些行为者对这些方案的一个支柱（赋予妇女权力，特别是幼儿的母亲）可能有不同的看法。对于这些差异以及这些差异对合作项目中赋权部分的影响以及对减少国家营养不良的影响的看法知之甚少。进行了一项多案例研究。在万象首都和琅勃拉邦省进行了数据收集。数据来自（1）文件，（2）与内部和外部组织代表的半结构化访谈，以及（3）与五岁以下儿童的母亲进行的焦点小组讨论和个人访谈。分析包括根据 OXFAM 对妇女经济赋权的概念框架，对内部和外部组织以及母亲的营养方案赋权部分进行特征描述。该研究表明，政府和外部组织普遍认识到，促进妇女赋权对于减少老挝儿童营养不良至关重要。然而，在赋予妇女权力的具体决定因素的解释上存在差异，特别是在妇女的自主权和社会资本的作用方面。内部行为者的观点包括使老挝成为一个独特国家的政治意识形态和传统。这种观点主导着内部和外部行为者合作开展的营养方案。在老挝，通过内部和外部行为者合作并针对老挝年轻母亲开展的营养方案中的妇女赋权概念，突出了政治和社会文化因素。
