Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action

groups. By being explicit about the developmental process and the assumptionswhich have been made, it has led to the outcomes framework being more amenableto rational examination and, therefore, in the long term more robust.5.17 All of the outcomes are presented overleaf. Several of the short termoutcomes refer to “all those working with”, it is recognised that there is a range ofstaff and organisations who have a role in improving maternal and infant nutrition.Whilst the NHS plays a key role, local authorities, the community and voluntarysector are also crucial. Short term outcome (1) refers to “optimal nutrition” which inthis context means the healthy eating advice for women prior to conception, duringpregnancy and following birth, as detailed in Appendix 3.