Mother-To-Mother: Evaluation of The Sustainability of A Peer Model to Communicate Nutrition Messages in Mozambique

Abstract

Background: Over the past twenty-five years, Africa had experienced the smallest relative decrease of child undernutrition in any world region. Many aid organizations were redirecting efforts and resources to supporting community - based initiatives such as Community Health Work (CHW).
Aim / Objectives: While peer models showed short term hope, there was limited long-term evidence. The study expounded upon an evaluation on a health promotion program using the Care Group Model. The objective of this research was to examine the sustainability of health gains associated with the use of CHWs via a Care Group Model as a health promotion strategy in the USAIDfunded Child Survival Program in Mozambique five years after the program ended.
Methodology: The program was implemented from 2005 to 2010 in Sofala Province, Mozambique. The present study extended the 2010 evaluation through additional data collection in 2015 with 506 participants in th study. Data analysis was done using SPSS and Anthro for behavioral and
Anthropometric data entries respectively. Frequencies, Chi-square, Cross - tabulations, and measures of central tendency (i.e., mean) were calculated using SPSS. Initial evaluation of the program, consisted of baseline and endline questionnaires of knowledge, practices, and coverage (KPC questionnaires) this was conducted in February 2006 and June 2010, respectively. This second endline study was conducted in July 2015
Results: The data collected showed that, statistically, significant program gains were sustained in 10 out of the 13 indicators during the follow-up  period from 2010 to 2015. Non reverted to their 2005 level nor below. The total number of direct beneficiaries in the Manga district at the end of the project in 2010 was 7,200 women. The original Care Group Model program was implemented from 2005 to 2010 by Food for the Hungry / Mozambique (FH/M) in Sofala Province.
Conclusion: Without any external financial support or training, Care Group Volunteers remained important sources of information for community  residents and program impact largely sustainable.

Key words: Child malnutrition, evaluation, Care Group Model, sustainability