The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62086

Annapryssma A. Safari, BS¹, Judy Lewis, MPhil², April Kranz, BS², and Alex Kay, BS². (1) Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, MPH program, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032-1925, 860-679-4937, safari@uchc.edu, (2) Community Based Education, University of Connecticut, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032-1925

The relationship between infant nutrition and health is well established, but the strategies for developing locally effective interventions are not. This project provides a method for working with the community to identify teaching methods, content and priorities. The setting is Buguruka, Tanzania a rural area on the shores of Lake Victoria (avg. income $50/year, life expectancy 45). This project was part of ongoing community, NGO, university collaboration. The intervention was designed based on data previously collected about infant nutrition. The program plan utilized locally available products, colorful laminated handouts in Kiswahili and hands-on cooking demonstrations.

The initial goal of improving infant nutrition focused on exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months followed by introduction of nutritious complementary foods. However, an in-depth community education needs assessment made it clear that infant nutrition had to be addressed as part of family nutrition. This contextualization was critical and was the source of failure of earlier interventions. In these communities malnutrition is a problem of everyone. The community had ownership of the project: an artist drew posters featuring locally grown foods; local families provided instructor housing, food and materials for cooking demonstrations, and discussed, cooked and ate the food. Exclusive breastfeeding and nutritious complementary foods were promoted in the context of family health.

These are inexpensive ways to improve nutrition, using only local non-processed food, practical approaches to food preparation and multiple types of experiential learning. Participants will learn how to apply this promising approach to meet nutritional needs in low-income communities throughout the world.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Strategies for developing locally effective interventions
• 2. Low cost ways to improve infant nutrition in developing countries

Keywords: Children, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.