Women-led sustainable irrigation improved indicators of nutritional status in children from Northern Benin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Climate change threatens food security and child nutrition in Africa. This study assessed the impact of community-based, solar-powered drip irrigation gardens (SMGs) on the nutritional status of children in households reliant on local food production.

Methods

Women's groups (WGs) from 16 matched villages in Northern Benin were randomly assigned to receive SMGs (WG_SMG) or continue traditional irrigation (WG_C). Additional households without women's groups (NWG_SMG and NWG_C) were recruited from intervention and comparison villages. Children aged 1-5 years participated in baseline and one-year follow-up surveys. Outcomes included dietary diversity, anthropometry, anemia, and micronutrient status. Dietary diversity was assessed using the WHO minimum dietary diversit

SUBMITTER: Taren D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12729123 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature