Care Groups I: An Innovative Community-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Resource-Constrained Settings

Perry, Henry B.; Morrow, Melanie; Borger, Sarah; Weiss, Jennifer; DeCoster, Mary; Davis, Thomas W.; Ernst, Pieter

doi:10.9745/ghsp-d-15-00051

Cited by 75 publications

(123 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Beyond the inclusion of trusted family and community members in community interventions, another potential platform for integrating maternal nutrition interventions and facilitating behaviour change is through Care Groups, which consist of volunteer community‐based health educators who visit 10–15 neighbours to share information on various health topics. The implementation of the Care Group model has been documented in 28 countries (Perry et al, ) and has demonstrated improved breastfeeding rates and receipt of maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation (George et al, ). This community‐based model may provide an opportunity to discuss information on maternal diet with mothers and their families.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing barriers to maternal nutrition in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A review of the evidence and programme implications

Kavle

Landry

2017

Maternal & Child Nutrition

129

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Adequate maternal nutrition during the “first 1,000 days” window is critical from conception through the first 6 months of life to improve nutritional status and reduce the risk of poor birth outcomes, such as low birthweight and preterm birth. Unfortunately, many programmes have targeted implementation and monitoring of nutrition interventions to infants and young children, rather than to women during pregnancy or post‐partum. A literature review was conducted to identify barriers to food choice and consumption during pregnancy and lactation and to examine how low‐ and middle‐income countries have addressed maternal nutrition in programmes. A literature review of peer‐reviewed and grey literature was conducted, and titles and abstracts reviewed by authors. Twenty‐three studies were included in this review. Barriers to adequate nutrition during pregnancy included cultural beliefs related to knowledge of quantity of food to eat during pregnancy, amount of weight to gain during pregnancy, and “eating down” during pregnancy for fear of delivering a large baby. Foods considered inappropriate for consumption during pregnancy or lactation contributed to food restriction. Drivers of food choice were influenced by food aversions, economic constraints, and household food availability. Counselling on maternal diet and weight gain during pregnancy was seldom carried out. Programming to support healthy maternal diet and gestational weight gain during pregnancy is scant. Tailored, culturally resonant nutrition education and counselling on diet during pregnancy and lactation and weight gain during pregnancy, as well as monitoring of progress in maternal nutrition, are areas of needed attention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing barriers to maternal nutrition in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A review of the evidence and programme implications

Kavle

Landry

2017

Maternal & Child Nutrition

129

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“…According to Perry et al [20], similar care group projects in Cambodia, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda have resulted in huge decline in mortality for children below 5 years and also improved outcomes for key maternal, infant and young child health indicators. The care group approach showed a ripple effect especially in Chiredzi district where several livelihood projects such as fisheries and piggery where initiated discussed during care groups are being driven by men in full support of the motive for household optimal nutrition status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A care group is a group of 10-15 volunteers, community-based health educators who regularly meet together with project staff for training and supervision [20]. The care group model is an innovative community-based strategy for improving nutrition, maternal, neonatal, and child health in resource-constrained setting [21,22]. Generally, care groups increase coverage and behaviour change by creating a large network of volunteer women [23].…”

Section: The Care Group Model Being Implemented In Zimbabwementioning

confidence: 99%

Mid-Term Review of the Care Group Model Used in Five Pilot Districts in Zimbabwe

Gomora¹,

Kandawasvika²,

Machaka³

et al. 2019

JHS

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Stunting has remained the nutrition condition of public health concern affecting one in three children under the five years Zimbabwe. Causes of stunting are multiple and poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are among the top factors associated with stunting. IYCF indicators in Zimbabwe are not performing very well with 61% of children 0 to 5 months being exclusively breastfed, and only 7% of children 6 to 23 months receiving minimum acceptable diet (MAD). The care group approach been piloted in 5 districts to promote and influence behaviour change towards uptake of optimal IYCF practices. The paper assesses progress made in the implementation of the approach after six months of implementation. Results show that implementation of the care group approach, with appropriate coordination structures at community level, yields considerable improvement in health, IYCF, and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) behaviours and practices. Community level initiatives like income generating activities, food production, and cooking demonstrations are proving to be the sustainability pillars for the care group approach. Conclusively, with proper leadership and coordination, care groups help to affect behaviour change in improving the health, nutrition and caring practices for children.

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“…The project applied an integrated PM2A approach to improve food security and reduce chronic malnutrition of vulnerable women and children under age 5. This entailed providing a comprehensive package of interventions that included supplementary feeding for pregnant or lactating women and children under 2 years (i.e., 6–23 months); increasing availability of and access to food through sustainable livelihoods interventions that included use of farmer groups, which cultivated group block farms using improved technology; strengthening facility and community health and nutrition services, including implementation of the Essential Nutrition Actions framework; and increasing access to primary education 6 – 8 …”

Section: Launch Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile-Based Nutrition and Child Health Monitoring to Inform Program Development: An Experience From Liberia

Guyon

Bock

Buback

et al. 2016

Glob Health Sci Pract

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Care Groups I: An Innovative Community-Based Strategy for Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in Resource-Constrained Settings

Cited by 75 publications

References 17 publications

Addressing barriers to maternal nutrition in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A review of the evidence and programme implications

Addressing barriers to maternal nutrition in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A review of the evidence and programme implications

Mid-Term Review of the Care Group Model Used in Five Pilot Districts in Zimbabwe

Mobile-Based Nutrition and Child Health Monitoring to Inform Program Development: An Experience From Liberia

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