Healthier children
The initiative has shown encouraging results. Amongst many families reached through the project, knowledge has increased considerably, attitudes towards the importance of the inclusion of animal source foods have improved and now more children are drinking more milk more frequently.
A measurable outcome of the project is that specifically children in the intervention had increased odds of consuming cow’s milk two or more times per week if their mothers recalled hearing that children should drink one cup of cow’s milk per day during a community health worker’s home visit or a community activity.
It was also observed that because men are portrayed in the counselling cards engaging in child nutrition activities, mothers found it easier to discuss household nutritional needs with their husbands.
When talking about the achievements of this project, Adeline Ufitinema, Food and Nutrition Specialist at the National Child Development Agency (NCD Agency), noted that the project is invaluable to children in the country: 'Children will achieve their full potential development for the benefit of themselves, their families and the country as a whole.'
Long-lasting impact
Following the successful results of this project, the messaging, which was validated by the NCD Agency, has been integrated into the national MIYCN materials, originally developed in 2011, for community counsellors. This significant outcome will ensure that these messages will continue to be spread throughout the rest of the country, with the potential for far-reaching impacts beyond the scope of this specific initiative.
'The knowledge gained through the project can help shift habits over time as families introduce these dietary changes in their homes. We hope that these changes in beliefs and behaviours will be carried over when today’s children grow into adults and in turn, have their own children,' said Jean Claude Gasangwa, senior coordinator of the project at Three Stones International.
Social and behavior change communication is only part of the solution
One of the key lessons of the initiative demonstrated that social and behavior change communication alone is not enough to change nutrition outcomes in households with poor food security related to low income and poor productivity of livestock. Families were encouraged to buy small fish, which are affordable and high in micro-nutrients, and to reserve 250 millilitres of milk from their cow per day for each member of their family, especially pregnant, lactating women and children. It was suggested that morning cow's milk production could be sold, and evening cow’s milk productivity could be reserved for the family.
Future projects will look at building increasing egg consumption by children. Messaging targeted at fathers will also continue to be refined for improved impact. Engaging men in household nutrition and encouraging project role models to deliver messages can help motivate other men in the community to participate in household nutrition, particularly the consumption of animal-source foods and cow's milk.