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Feb 16, 2005Keywords:
COLNISA underweight stunted wasted nutrition information
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Community level nutrition information system for action in rural communities
Abstract
Background: To improve evidence-based action at the community level, UNICEF developed a nutrition information management strategy called Community Level Nutrition Information System for Action (COLNISA). It uses a participatory cycle of assessment, analysis and action to solve nutritional and health related problems.
Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered to mothers with children under the age of five in 67 households before intervention and 24 months later.
Results: Showed statistically significant changes in maternal literacy [7(10%) vs. 24(36%)] and engagement in income generating activities [17(26%) vs. 54(81%)]. Similarly, the proportion of mothers attending antenatal care during pregnancy increased almost six-fold [7(10%) vs. 40(59%)]. Significant improvements were also observed in mothers\' knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding [21(32%) vs. 62(93%)], practices of complementary feeding [11(16%) vs. 39(58%)] and oral rehydration therapy [16(24%) vs. 47(70%)]. Furthermore, there were significant increases in the proportion of under fives that were growth monitored [4(5%) vs. 46(83%)] and fully immunized [7(10%) vs. 22(33%)]. Conversely, there was a reduction in the proportion of stunted, wasted and underweight children [51(77%), 11(17%) and 41(61%)] vs. [50(75%), 8(12%) and 33(49%)]. The changes in nutritional indices were however, not statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study shows that the COLNISA strategy has a positive impact on basic social, health and nutritional indices and engenders community participation. A controlled trial is however advocated before its wholesale application.
Key Words: COLNISA, underweight, stunted, wasted, nutrition, information
Annals of African Medicine Vol.3(3) 2004: 120-125
Methods: Structured questionnaires were administered to mothers with children under the age of five in 67 households before intervention and 24 months later.
Results: Showed statistically significant changes in maternal literacy [7(10%) vs. 24(36%)] and engagement in income generating activities [17(26%) vs. 54(81%)]. Similarly, the proportion of mothers attending antenatal care during pregnancy increased almost six-fold [7(10%) vs. 40(59%)]. Significant improvements were also observed in mothers\' knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding [21(32%) vs. 62(93%)], practices of complementary feeding [11(16%) vs. 39(58%)] and oral rehydration therapy [16(24%) vs. 47(70%)]. Furthermore, there were significant increases in the proportion of under fives that were growth monitored [4(5%) vs. 46(83%)] and fully immunized [7(10%) vs. 22(33%)]. Conversely, there was a reduction in the proportion of stunted, wasted and underweight children [51(77%), 11(17%) and 41(61%)] vs. [50(75%), 8(12%) and 33(49%)]. The changes in nutritional indices were however, not statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study shows that the COLNISA strategy has a positive impact on basic social, health and nutritional indices and engenders community participation. A controlled trial is however advocated before its wholesale application.
Key Words: COLNISA, underweight, stunted, wasted, nutrition, information
Annals of African Medicine Vol.3(3) 2004: 120-125
