QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bonvecchio, A. Articles by Rivera, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bonvecchio, A. Articles by Rivera, J. A.

---

Community and International Nutrition

Maternal Knowledge and Use of a Micronutrient Supplement Was Improved with a Programmatically Feasible Intervention in Mexico¹

² Research Center on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and ³ Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bonvecchio{at}insp.mx.

In Mexico, the potential impact on child malnutrition from a nutritional supplement (papilla) delivered through a conditional transfer program (Oportunidades) was attenuated by problems of household utilization. A behavioral change through communication intervention was developed to improve supplement utilization. Our study assessed the efficacy of this intervention through the results of a randomized trial. In 2 states (Veracruz and Chiapas) 2 clusters of communities were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Data were obtained from 176–198 mothers in intervention and control communities using a survey questionnaire at preintervention baseline and at a 5-mo follow-up. Concordance between reported and observed behaviors was examined through an observational substudy. The 4 behavioral recommendations were: 1) prepare papilla as a pap; 2) administer the preparation every day; 3) administer it between breakfast and dinner; and 4) administer it only to target children. The intervention resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of reported correct behaviors in the intervention group compared with the control for 3 of the behaviors: a mean increase of 42.5% for preparing papilla as pap, 64.4% for daily administration, and 61.5% for giving papilla between breakfast and dinner. Administering to a target child increased significantly in Veracruz (from 51.5% to 90.6%), but not in Chiapas (20.6% to 33.3%). Reported behaviors agreed with observed behaviors in the substudy. With the exception of the target-child administration in Chiapas, adopting the recommendations was culturally acceptable and feasible. The results indicate that improvements in household utilization of the supplement can be achieved with a communication intervention that is potentially feasible for implementation on a large scale within the Oportunidades Program.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. C. H. Fernald, P. J. Gertler, and X. Hou Cash Component of Conditional Cash Transfer Program Is Associated with Higher Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure in Adults J. Nutr., November 1, 2008; 138(11): 2250 - 2257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Leroy, H. Vermandere, L. M. Neufeld, and S. M. Bertozzi Improving Enrollment and Utilization of the Oportunidades Program in Mexico Could Increase Its Effectiveness J. Nutr., March 1, 2008; 138(3): 638 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]