Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: A Training Manual - Linkages Project

PMTCT interventions are most effective when carried out in the context ofcomprehensive maternal and child health (MCH) services. These include antenatalcare, post-natal care, and child health services (slides 24, 25, 26).Essential Nutrition Actions (slides 27, 28)Nutrition and HIV/AIDS programs, including PMTCT, should be based on a number ofkey elements, depending on the country context. The Essential Nutrition Actions(ENA) package promotes the seven following key nutrition behaviors that are do-ableand scientifically proven to improve the nutrition of women and children:1. Promotion of optimal breastfeeding during the first 6 months2. Promotion of appropriate complementary feeding beginning at 6 monthswith continued breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond3. Promotion of appropriate feeding of the child during and after illness4. Prevention of vitamin A deficiency (breastfeeding, consumption offortified and vitamin A-rich foods, maternal and child supplementation 6-59 months)5. Prevention of anemia (maternal and child iron supplementation,deworming, malaria control, and consumption of fortified and iron-richfoods)6. Promotion of iodized salt consumption by all families7. Promotion of improved women’s nutrition (increased food intake duringpregnancy and lactation, iron and folic acid supplementation, treatmentand prevention of malaria, deworming during pregnancy, post-partumvitamin A supplementation)The ENA approach is implemented through health worker counseling and behaviorchange communication at six contact points in the life cycle: antenatal, delivery andimmediate post-partum, post-natal and family planning, immunization, growthmonitoring or well child, and sick child consultations. The ENA package may beimplemented within MCH or other ongoing programs. For PMTCT programs, emphasismay be placed on infant feeding and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding195