Associations between parents' exposure to a multisectoral programme and infant and young child feeding practices in Nepal

In Nepal, an at-scale, multisectoral programme-Suaahara (2011-2023)-aims to improve nutrition behaviours. Suaahara II (2016-2023) transitioned from a mother/child dyad focus to explicitly targeting all family members. Evidence is scant, however, regarding how exposure by men to social and behaviour change interventions relates to nutrition outcomes. This study uses a 2019 cross-sectional monitoring dataset to test associations between maternal and male household head exposure to Suaahara II interventions (interacting with a frontline worker, participating in a community event or listening to the Bhanchhin Aama radio programme) and adoption of three infant and young child feeding practices: minimum dietary diversity, minimum acceptable diet and sick child feeding, in households with a child under 2 years (n = 1827). Maternal exposure to Suaahara II had a positive association with minimum dietary diversity (OR: 1.71, 95% CI [1.27, 2.28], P < 0.001), minimum acceptable diet (OR: 1.60, 95% CI [1.19, 2.14], P = 0.002) and increased feeding to a sick child (OR: 2.11, 95% CI [1.41, 3.17], P < 0.001). Male household head exposure was only associated with increased feeding to a sick child (OR: 2.21, 95% CI [1.27, 3.84], P = 0.005). Among households with an exposed mother, having an exposed male household head nearly tripled the odds of appropriate sick child feeding (OR: 2.90, 95% CI [1.57, 5.34], P = 0.001) but was not significantly associated with the other two outcomes. These findings suggest that the relationships between exposure to nutrition programmes and outcomes are complex and further research is needed to understand variation by family member, behavioural outcome and context.

Automated summary

The study in Nepal found that exposure to Suaahara II interventions by mothers was positively associated with three infant and young child feeding practices, while exposure by male household heads was only linked to increased feeding to sick children. Additionally, having both a mother and male household head exposed nearly tripled the odds of appropriate sick child feeding, highlighting the importance of involving multiple family members in nutrition programmes.