Skip to main content

Maternal nutrition

Improved Infant and Young Child Feeding Takes Root in Nigeria

The 2013 Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) for Nigeria found that infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices remain suboptimal in Nigeria. Among other findings, only 17.4% of children under six months old are exclusively breastfeed, and only 35.3% of mothers are continuing breastfeeding at two years. Child nutrition outcomes are often poor, with the rate of wasting among children under five years old at 18.0% and the rate of stunting at 36.8%.

SPRING Publishes a Series Exploring Experiences and Lessons Learned for Operationalizing Micronutrient Powders

Micronutrient powders (MNP) are an efficacious intervention to reduce iron deficiency anemia and to fill nutrient gaps in young children, but there is limited published implementation research, which is needed as countries are increasingly implementing or scaling up programs. In 2015, SPRING held the Micronutrient Powders Consultation, bringing together 49 MNP program implementers and experts to identify and summarize the most recent MNP program experiences and lessons learned for operationalizing MNP for young children.

Community Video (Guinea): Toutes les Femmes Ont Besoin d’une Bonne Nutrition

Tenin is a pregnant woman in Tindo, Guinea. One day, the local community health worker (CHW) stops by her compound and speaks with her and her husband. The CHW tells Tenin’s husband that he must support Tenin’s nutrition through additional meals and a diversified diet to keep Tenin and the baby healthy and strong throughout the pregnancy. Tenin’s husband is glad of the information and agrees to help his wife. Later, Tenin’s husband brings their son, Aly, to gather sweet potato leaves from the garden.

Training Community Video and Radio Staff in Guinea on MIYCN and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture

In Guinea, SPRING is promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture and maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) practices through radio programs and community videos. SPRING recently held a two-day training on these topics with staff from local radio and video production centers. During the training, participants explored how to break the cycle of malnutrition, methods for making local agricultural practices more nutrition-sensitive, and their roles as agents of change in their communities.

SPRING Promotes Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment during Producer Organization Training Series

On January 18, 2017, SPRING/Senegal facilitated a one-day workshop on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the region of Kaolack. The workshop was organized as part of SPRING’s strategy to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and children under the age of two. Women in Senegal often play several key roles in the household: they are responsible for cultivating vegetables and other crops, preparing food at home, keeping the household tidy, and caring for their children.