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Using content analysis to assess quality of provincial nutrition plans in Vietnam
Author(s) -
Hoang Lan N,
Hajeebhoy Nemat,
Nguyen Phuong H,
Lapping Karin,
Frongillo Edward A,
Me Purnima
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.108.2
Subject(s) - decentralization , psychological intervention , business , context (archaeology) , quality (philosophy) , content analysis , checklist , economic growth , environmental resource management , environmental planning , operations management , political science , medicine , economics , geography , nursing , psychology , social science , philosophy , archaeology , epistemology , sociology , law , cognitive psychology
Nutrition programming in many countries is often decentralized to provincial or district levels. While decentralization creates opportunity to account for local context, it also challenges planning capacity at local levels. There is limited understanding of decentralized nutrition planning and factors that influence planning. As a first step in a study to improve provincial planning, we examined quality of nutrition plans in 13 provinces in Vietnam using content analysis. A coding checklist was developed by experts who identified features of high‐quality provincial nutrition planning; other codes were added during analysis. A few plans were evidence‐based, locally contextualized and feasible to implement. In others there was 1) inadequate use of global and national evidence on interventions or local data on nutrition, 2) poor feasibility as reflected in stated goals, objectives, and budget justification, 3) lack of prioritized interventions and joint actions with other sectors, and 4) poor resource mobilization. To strengthen and provide support for decentralized nutrition planning and to monitor support to planning processes, content analysis of nutrition plans should be conducted regularly. Our findings suggest that support to improve capacity for nutrition planning at decentralized levels is essential. Funding: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, through Alive and Thrive, managed by AED‐ARTS.