Effects of participatory learning and action with women's groups, counselling through home visits and creches on undernutrition among children under three years in eastern India: a quasi-experimental study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

India faces a high burden of child undernutrition. We evaluated the effects of two community strategies to reduce undernutrition among children under 3 years in rural Jharkhand and Odisha, eastern India: (1) monthly Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) meetings with women's groups followed by home visits; (2) crèches for children aged 6 months to 3 years combined with monthly PLA meetings and home visits.

Methods

We tested these strategies in a non-randomised, controlled study with baseline and endline cross-sectional surveys. We purposively selected five blocks of Jharkhand and Odisha, and divided each block into three areas. Area 1 served as control. In Area 2, trained local female workers facilitated PLA meetings and offered counselling to mothers of childre

SUBMITTER: Gope RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6637592 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature