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What influences the sustainability of community‐based child nutrition programs in the Peruvian highlands?
Author(s) -
Kim Sunny S,
Creed-Kanashiro Hilary,
Bartolini Rosario,
Constas Mark A,
Habicht Jean-Pierre,
Stoltzfus Rebecca J
Publication year - 2012
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.26.1_supplement.389.2
Subject(s) - sustainability , work (physics) , perception , matching (statistics) , focus group , public relations , psychology , medical education , political science , business , nursing , economic growth , medicine , marketing , economics , engineering , mechanical engineering , ecology , pathology , neuroscience , biology
Long‐term viability of health and nutrition programs is a desired goal of donors and program implementers, yet little evidence exists on how to influence sustainability in developing countries. We previously assessed sustainability of 2 community‐based child nutrition programs (ADRA and CARE) in Peru, 2 yrs after project termination, and found few activities were sustained. With 94 interviews with program delivery actors and 22 focus groups with mothers in 21 communities of the 2 programs, we used pattern matching to test theoretical propositions (related to the initial program, local organizations, and community) against observed patterns of factors associated with sustainability. Forms and types of influential factors on sustainability reflected the forms and types of sustained activities, with common factors between programs. We found 3 factors of the initial program (broader community participation, positive perception of impact, and intentional actions at exit); 6 organizational factors (integration, external coordination, higher skills and training, positive perceived value of work, strong work motivation, and champions for child nutrition); and 4 community factors (perception of problem, integration, valuing of child nutrition, and champions). Addressing the contextual factors in program design and implementation is needed to achieve sustainability. Funders: NIH and Cornell University. Grant Funding Source : NIH and Cornell University