This study explored how mothers and caregivers felt about the Family MUAC program in South Africa, which trained them to measure their child's nutrition. Mothers appreciated the support from community health workers (CHWs), who were seen as caring and helpful. At first, measuring MUAC was challenging, but with CHW guidance, mothers became more confident. The program helped … [Read more...] about A qualitative study to explore mother’s experiences of a family MUAC project in two provinces in South Africa
Nutrition
The Impact of Community Nutrition Workers on Reducing Malnutrition in Pregnant Lactating Women of Tharparkar
This study looked at how community nutrition workers helped improve the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Tharparkar, Pakistan. Out of 305 women, about 29% were found to be malnourished at the start. The research showed that support from trained local workers, through home visits and nutrition sessions, helped improve their nutrition. The study suggests that using … [Read more...] about The Impact of Community Nutrition Workers on Reducing Malnutrition in Pregnant Lactating Women of Tharparkar
Editorial: Challenges, Opportunities, and Actions for Improved Maternal and Child Nutrition
Maternal and child malnutrition remains a major concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This research highlights key challenges like poor nutrition during pregnancy, high intake of ultra-processed foods, and limited access to care. Community-based approaches, especially those involving trained health workers, show promise in improving nutrition and health … [Read more...] about Editorial: Challenges, Opportunities, and Actions for Improved Maternal and Child Nutrition
Bringing Child Health Closer to Families: Lessons From a Family MUAC Intervention in Urban and Rural South Africa
This study looked at a program in South Africa where community health workers taught mothers how to check their children for malnutrition using a simple arm measurement (MUAC). The program was more active in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) than in urban Gauteng. Most trained mothers in KZN were able to measure correctly, while fewer did so in Gauteng. Only a small number of mothers … [Read more...] about Bringing Child Health Closer to Families: Lessons From a Family MUAC Intervention in Urban and Rural South Africa
Centering community based maternal and child nutrition services in Bangladesh’s rural primary health care: What has potential to scale
A new strategy to improve maternal and child nutrition services in rural Bangladesh was tested using community health workers. It integrated nutrition services with existing immunization and antenatal care programs, improving growth monitoring, maternal weight tracking, and supplement distribution. However, practices like dietary diversity and breastfeeding remained similar in … [Read more...] about Centering community based maternal and child nutrition services in Bangladesh’s rural primary health care: What has potential to scale
