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The acceptability of an innovative feeding bowl and spoon to improve maternal and child nutrition in India. (633.5)
Author(s) -
Collison Deborah,
Kekre Priya,
Srikantiah Sridhar,
Verma Pankaj,
Melgen Sarah,
Kram Nidal,
Colton Jonathan,
Blount Wendy,
WebbGirard Amy
Publication year - 2014
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.28.1_supplement.633.5
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , pregnancy , breast feeding , meal , pediatrics , family medicine , environmental health , demography , genetics , pathology , sociology , biology
Dietary practices in India often fail to provide adequate nutrition during the first 1000 days of life. We used a life course approach to develop and qualitatively assess low cost and easy to use demarcated feeding bowls and slotted spoons to assist mothers in appropriate diet practices for themselves during pregnancy and lactation and for their children 6‐24 mo. In Samastipur, Bihar, India, we conducted 16 focus groups discussion and 8 key informant interviews to assess community acceptability and feedback on design and delivery of the bowl and spoon. Over 14 days we conducted user testing with 20 pregnant women, 20 breastfeeding women 0‐6 mo postpartum, and 20 mothers with infants 6‐18 mo. The tools were well accepted, though communities recommended manufacturing them in steel. The proportion of pregnant and breastfeeding women taking an extra portion/ day increased from 0% to 100%; number of meals increased from 2‐3 to 3‐4 / day. For children, meal frequency and the quantity and thickness of food consumed during meals increased for all age groups. All children not yet initiating complementary feeding initiated during the testing period. Simple feeding tools are culturally acceptable and have potential to improve dietary practices during the first 1000 days of life in Bihar. Further research should assess whether these tools influence practices and subsequently nutritional status over and above counseling alone. Grant Funding Source : Bill and Mellinda Gates