Evaluation of the Food and Agriculture Organization's global school-based nutrition education initiative, Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger (FMFH), in schools of Hyderabad, India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of the Food and Agriculture Organization's global school-based nutrition education initiative, Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger (FMFH), in improving nutrition-related knowledge levels of schoolchildren.


METHODS
Adopting the cluster randomisation technique, five schools each in experimental and control groups were randomly chosen from the member schools of a voluntary organisation. Repeated measures of knowledge levels were carried out at three points in time to assess pre-, post-intervention and retention of knowledge gained during the intervention. Children from experimental schools were given nutrition education by teachers in the classroom setting using FMFH material.


METHODS
Schoolchildren (n=358 in the control group and n=312 in the experimental group) of grades VIII and IX from schools in Hyderabad, India.


RESULTS
The classroom-based intervention resulted in a significant improvement (P<0.01) in nutrition knowledge levels of schoolchildren in the experimental group. Significant improvement in knowledge was also observed in the control group. The effect size indicated that the improvement in knowledge levels of schoolchildren in experimental schools over control schools was medium (d=0.40), indicating the efficacy of the FMFH programme in improving nutrition-related knowledge. No significant decrease (P>0.05) in knowledge levels was observed after 2 months, indicating retention of the knowledge acquired through the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The FMFH programme provides an opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about nutrition through their teachers in a classroom setting if the lesson plans are adapted to the local circumstances. Furthermore, it has the potential to make nutrition education interactive, effective and sustainable.
Subba Rao
G M
GM
Extension & Training Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Jamai Osmania PO, Hyderabad, India. gmsubbarao@yahoo.com
Rao
D Raghunatha
DR
Venkaiah
K
K
Dube
Anil K
AK
Sarma
K V Rameshwar
KV
D000383:Agriculture / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005522:Food Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D007194:India; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011153:Population; D011156:Population Density; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration