Special focus on nutrition-sensitive programming

Research
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Impact of an integrated
agriculture and nutrition
and health behaviour
change communication
programme for women
in Burkina Faso
Summary of research 1
Amother with her baby at the health
clinic in Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
WFP/Anne Poulsen
Location: Burkina Faso
What we know: e agricultural sector has great potential to contribute to improving nutrition.
However, current evidence of agriculture’s impact on child nutrition is limited
What this article adds: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) assessed the impact (anaemia, wasting
and diarrhoea among children aged 3 to 12.9 months) of Helen Keller International’s (HKI) twoyear
integrated agriculture (homestead food production) and nutrition and health behaviour
change communication programme (BCC) in Burkina Faso. When implemented by members of a
health committee, there were significant improvements in wasting (marginal), diarrhoea, and
anaemia, especially among the youngest children. Plausibility is supported by significant
improvements that were also found in women’s agriculture production, infant and young child
feeding (IYCF) practices and household dietary diversity.
This paper summarises the results of
a randomised controlled trial (RCT)
that assesses the impact of HKI’s
two-year integrated agriculture
(homestead food production) and nutrition
and health BCC programme in Burkina Faso.
e study assesses the impact of the programme
on anaemia, wasting and diarrhoea in infants
and young children.
e 2013 Lancet series on maternal and
child nutrition emphasises the need to address
the underlying determinants of malnutrition
through multi-sectorial, nutrition-sensitive programmes,
alongside nutrition-specific programmes,
in order to improve nutrition in the
first 1,000 days of life (Black, Victora, Walker
et al, 2013). Agriculture is one sector that has
great potential to contribute to improving nutrition.
However, current evidence of agriculture’s
impact on child nutrition is limited, due to
weaknesses in programme targeting, design
and implementation. e aim of this study is
to strengthen this body of evidence.
intake, prevention of vitamin A deficiency,
breastfeeding practices, complementary feeding
practices and nutritional care for sick and severely
malnourished children. Participating
women received home visits twice per month
from either an older woman leader (OWL)
from within the community or a health committee
(HC) member, with links to health services.
e two types of actors were selected to
understand how the effectiveness of the BCC
strategy may vary according to the type of
actor delivering messages.
Anaemia and acute undernutrition are widespread
among young children in Burkina Faso.
Anaemia is nearly universal at 92% among
children younger than five years of age (the
e authors used a longitudinal design and
highest prevalence in the world). Burkina Faso
followed the same households, mothers and
children over the two-year programme implementation
period. e baseline study was con-
also has the highest prevalence of moderateto-severe
anaemia (45% among children six to e authors use a cluster RCT to assess the
Method
ducted between February and May 2010 (when
23 months of age) and the highest prevalence impact of the HKI programme, which integrates
children were 3 to 12.9 months of age) and the
of wasting (14%) in sub-Saharan Africa. Undernutrition
and anaemia share several risk nutrition and health BCC strategy with the ex-
agricultural production activities with a strong
endline survey was conducted between February
and June 2012 (when children were 24-39.9
factors, including illness and energy and micronutrient
deficiencies. Lack of access to high-
outcomes. Agricultural production activities
plicit goal of improving children’s nutritional
months of age).
quality foods, especially tied to seasonal variations
and water shortages; sub-optimal IYCF; chicks and small gardening tools) and agriculture
included input distribution (e.g. seeds, saplings,
1
Olney, D.K., Pedehombga, A., Ruel, M.T. and Dillon, A. (2015).
A 2-year integrated agriculture and nutrition and health
and poor hygiene and sanitation practices likely training provided by four female village farm behavior change communication programme targeted to
contribute to energy and micronutrient deficiencies
and increased exposure to pathogens egy included communication on women’s nu-
leaders at demonstration farms. e BCC strat-
women in Burkina Faso reduces anaemia, wasting, and
diarrhoea in children 3-12.9 months of age at baseline: a
cluster-randomized controlled trial. Nutr. 2015 154:6 1317-
that cause diarrhoea and other infections. trition, anaemia prevention and control, iodine 1324. doi:10.3945/jn.114.203539
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