Small-animal revolving funds: an innovative programming model to increase access to and consumption of animal-source foods by rural households in Malawi.

Abstract

Increased intake of animal-source foods is a key means to improve nutritional status in populations with high levels of nutrient deficiencies. However, there are few examples of programming models that have successfully improved both access to and consumption of animal products in resource-poor settings. This chapter presents a case study of a community-based intervention to increase household access to and consumption of animal-source foods, implemented as part of a comprehensive, 9-year nutrition and health programme in Malawi. A community-managed revolving fund scheme was used to distribute small animals to rural households, accompanied by training on animal husbandry and intensive nutrition education to promote consumption of the animal products. This was integrated into a broader anaemia control strategy, which included iron supplementation and malaria control. Cross-sectional surveys were used to evaluate programme effectiveness, including comparison of beneficiary communities with non-programme areas. Household rearing of all small animals increased from 43% to 65% in programme areas. Significantly more households in the programme area both raised and consumed the target animals at the final evaluation. Anaemia prevalence in pregnant women decreased from 59% to 48% in the programme area, but increased to 68% in the comparison group. In preschool children, anaemia prevalence decreased similarly in both groups. The revolving fund scheme successfully increased access to and consumption of small animals in programme communities. Anaemia prevalence decreased in women, but the specific contribution of the animals to this cannot be separated from the combined impact of the integrated programme.

“Men Are in Front at Eating Time, but Not When It Comes to Rearing the Chicken”: Unpacking the Gendered Benefits and Costs of Livestock Ownership in Kenya

“…Indeed, there is some evidence that livestock programs can result in increased income 7 -13 and increased consumption of animal source foods. 8,9,14 -21 However, one or both of these benefits were not realized in other programs, 10,12,14,22 -25 and scientifically rigorous evidence for improvement in household welfare via women’s empowerment is lacking.…”

The impact of livestock interventions on nutritional outcomes of children younger than 5 years old and women in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Some studies had multiple outcomes. For the nutritional outcomes measured, dietary diversity was reported by 9% ( n = 5) of the studies ( 46 – 50 ), consumption of ASFs by 18% ( n = 10) of the studies ( 27 , 46 , 50 – 57 ), hemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anemia by 7% ( n = 4) of the studies ( 51 , 58 – 60 ), stunting or HAZ z-scores by 33% ( n = 18) of the studies ( 27 , 46 – 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 61 – 68 ), wasting or WHZ z-scores by 15% ( n = 8) of the studies ( 27 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 55 – 57 , 61 ), and 18% ( n = 10) reported on underweight or WAZ z-scores ( 27 , 46 – 48 , 53 , 60 , 61 , 68 – 70 ) Based on study design, of the 29 studies reviewed, 14% ( n = 4) were livestock oriented impact evaluations, 4% ( n = 1) evaluated dairy sensitive value chains, 41% ( n = 12) were observational studies, and 41% ( n = 12) were experimental studies ( Supplementary Table 1 ).…”

“…However, their review is different from ours because the former focused on general agriculture interventions including homestead food production systems, home vegetable gardens, biofortified crops, livestock, and irrigation projects and their effect on nutrition in the general population. Our review focused mainly on livestock-oriented interventions and their effect on nutrition in children under 5 years old and/or pregnant and lactating women specifically in Africa.Based on our evidence synthesis, a sizeable percentage of articles showed that livestock interventions improved access to and consumption of nutrient-dense animal-source foods (27, 46, 50-57), attaining minimum dietary diversity (46-50), hemoglobin concentration, and prevalence of anemia(51,(58)(59)(60).Additionally, some livestock interventions improved children's stunting or height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores (27, 46-48, 51-53, 55-57, 61-68), wasting or weight-for-height (WHZ) z-scores (27, 46, 47, 51, 55-57, 61), and underweight or weight-for-age (WAZ) z-scores(48,61,68,69), which are indicators of chronic and acute nutritional status in children. This positive effect is because livestock and livestock products are a source of essential, nutrient-dense, and highly bioavailable ASFs and are a source of household income through sales of livestock and livestock products, which translates to improved nutritional status among women and children in underserved and vulnerable populations.…”

“…, consumption of ASFs by 18% (n = 10) of the studies (27, 46, 50-57), hemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anemia by 7% (n = 4) of the studies(51,(58)(59)(60), stunting or HAZ z-scores…”

“Agriculture and Malnutrition in India” by Gulati et al.

“…That relationship is mediated by food access, health and caring practices [1][2][3][4][5]. This paper helps to make clear that improvements in agriculture can lead to positive nutritional outcomes if these other mediating factors are in place.…”