Effects of Nutrition Counselling and Unconditional Cash Transfer on Child Growth and Family Food Security in Internally Displaced Person Camps in Somalia—A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

The effects of nutrition counselling (NC) and unconditional cash transfer (UCT) in improving growth in children under five and household food security are poorly understood in humanitarian settings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of NC and NC combined with unconditional cash transfer (NC + UCT) on children’s growth and food security in Somalia. The study was performed with a quasi-experimental design in two districts in the Banadir region of Somalia. Caregivers (n = 255) with mildly to moderately malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months old (n = 184) were randomized to the NC, NC + UCT and control groups. The interventions consisted of weekly NC for three months alone or in combination with UCT. The outcome variables were wasting, underweight, stunting, and food security. Difference-indifferences analysis was used to estimate the effect of the interventions. Our study did not find any significant impacts of NC or NC + UCT on child wasting, underweight, stunting, food security or household expenses. In conclusion, NC, alone or in combination with UCT, did not impact children’s growth or household food security. Thus, a culturally tailored NC programme over a longer period, supplemented with cash transfer, could be beneficial to consider when designing interventions to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity.

The effects of nutrition and health education on the nutritional status of internally displaced schoolchildren in Cameroon: a randomised controlled trial

“…The lack of significant improvement in HAZ, WAZ, and MUACZ after the intervention is consistent with the results of Mushaphi et al (44) who did not observe any significant improvement in the nutritional status of young children in Limpopo Province, South Africa after a nutrition education intervention of the mothers/caregivers. The present finding is also comparable with previous studies conducted by Mananga et al (27) in rural Cameroon and also with another study in Somalia which provided nutrition education to mothers of internally displaced children who were living in Somalian camps (45) . They did not notice any statistically significant difference in underweight, and wasting among the study children after nutrition education of their mothers.…”

“…The insignificant reduction in stunting observed among children whose mothers were taught adequate dietary practices is consistent with previous studies conducted among children in Limpopo Province, South Africa (44) and in rural Cameroon (27) . Moreover, nutrition counselling for mothers of internally displaced children living in camps in Somalia did not affect stunting among their children (45) . All these authors established an insignificant reduction in stunting among children after their mothers/caregivers were educated with nutrition counselling (27,44,45) .…”

“…Moreover, nutrition counselling for mothers of internally displaced children living in camps in Somalia did not affect stunting among their children (45) . All these authors established an insignificant reduction in stunting among children after their mothers/caregivers were educated with nutrition counselling (27,44,45) .…”

“…These results are in concordance with the findings of Mananga et al (27) who noted no significant improvement in the dietary diversity of children in rural Cameroon after a nutrition education intervention on their mothers. Correspondingly, the nutrition education of mothers of internally displaced children in Somalia did not affect the dietary diversity of their children (45) . Taking into consideration the multiple benefits for the mother and child from appropriate dietary practices, investigations should be done to seek alternative strategies to promote dietary diversity among internally displaced children.…”