In the past, the seeds I planted often didn’t grow.” A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Assessment of Integrating Agriculture and Nutrition Behaviour Change Interventions with Cash Transfers in Rural Bangladesh

Bibliographic Data

ID15485451
AuthorsAshraful Alam (0000-0001-7034-1095, The University of Sydney, corresponding author), Wajiha Khatun (0000-0003-3650-561X, The University of Sydney), Mansura Khanam (0000-0001-7813-4242, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research), Gulshan Ara (0000-0002-3745-5952, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research), A I Bokshi (The University of Sydney), Anowarul Bokshi (The University of Sydney), Mu Li (0000-0002-2371-8950, The University of Sydney), Michael J Dibley (0000-0002-1554-5180, The University of Sydney)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue11
Pages4153-4153
Publication date2020-06-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17114153
PMID32532096
OpenAlexW3035717314
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

Combining agriculture with behaviour change communication and other nutrition-sensitive interventions could improve feeding practices to reduce maternal and child undernutrition. Such integrated intervention requires rigorous design and an appropriate implementation strategy to generate an impact. We assessed feasibility and acceptability of an intervention package that combines nutrition counselling, counselling and support for home-gardening, and unconditional cash transfers delivered to women on a mobile platform for improving maternal and child nutrition behaviours among low-income families in rural Bangladesh. We used mixed-methods including in-depth interviews with women (20), key-informant interviews with project workers (6), and a cross sectional survey of women (60). Women well-accepted the intervention and reported to be benefited by acquiring new skills and information on home gardening and nutrition. They established homestead gardens of seasonal vegetables successfully and were able to find a solution for major challenges. All women received the cash transfer. Ninety-one percent of women spent the cash for buying foods, 20% spent it on purchasing seeds or fertilizers and 57% used it for medical and livelihood purchases. Project staff and mobile banking agent reported no difficulty in cash transfer. Combining nutrition-specific and -sensitive interventions is a feasible and acceptable approach. Using mobile technologies can provide additional benefits for the intervention to reach the disadvantage families in rural settings

Agriculture · Business · Cash · Cash crop · Cash transfers · Disadvantage · Environmental health · Geography · Intervention (counseling · Livelihood · Malnutrition · Nutrition Education · Psychological intervention · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Finance · Gerontology