Influencing the Influencers: Tools for Engaging the Community in Improving Behaviors to Improve Maternal and Child Nutritional Outcomes

Presenter: Faith Thuita, Senior Nutrition and Research Advisor, PATH

Evidence and program experience show that partner, family, and community support for mothers to practice improved maternal, infant and young child nutrition and care behaviors are key to effective and sustainable changes in those behaviors, leading in turn to improved nutrition and health outcomes for mothers and children.

The Infant and Young Child Nutrition Project created a collection of tools and resources for use by community-based nutrition programs to effectively increase that vital support. The collection includes literature reviews, social and behavior change communication resources for reaching a wide range of community members, and monitoring and evaluation tools. 

The session included an overview of the tools with an in depth presentation about resources for engaging fathers and grandmothers. These materials can be used to train father and grandmother dialogue group facilitators to share information and encourage discussions on household members’ roles related to optimal infant and young child feeding and maternal dietary practices. The tools include: materials for peer educators, men’s groups, mother support groups, grandmother groups, community leaders, strengthening health talks and community theatre.

Faith noted that from her experience, grandmothers are very happy to be involved in the trainings. In some communities their influence is decreasing as people break away from traditional family structures. These activities reassert their role as an influencer. Men are willing to be involved in the health of their families. These trainings promote their involvement in the health of their children. They are encouraged to go with their wives to antenatal visits and when a child gets sick the father can take their children to the doctor.

The session concluded with a small group discussion on experiences participants have had working with grandmothers and men and the feasibility of incorporating these strategies into the participants’ programs. Participants shared their experiences working with grandmothers and/or with men as influencers of mothers care practices for children.

 

The Way Forward: Participants made recommendations in the following areas:

Processes

The topic was very interesting but may not be appropriate for short-term programs or emergency projects. It would be beneficial to explore approaches which could be effective within a shorter period of time.

Capacity Strengthening and Tools

Efforts should be made to offer training to nutrition practitioners on this topic