title: UNICEF-CDC global assessment of home fortification interventions 2011: current status, new directions, and implications for policy and programmatic guidance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micronutrient powders (MNP) reduce anemia and improve iron status in children aged 6 to 23 months. Little is known about home fortification interventions in low-income and middle-income countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe highlights of the Global Assessment of Home Fortification Interventions 2011, new directions, and needed policy and programmatic guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey ofhomefortification interventions was conducted. Staff at UNICEF and regional focal points at Home Fortification Technical Advisory Group partner agencies sent questionnaires to representatives in 152 low-income and middle-income countries. Included interventions met the following criteria: they were for prevention and used MNP lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS), or complementary food supplements (CFS); one recommended mode of use was mixing into food; they were implemented or planning to start within 12 months; and research interventions were directly linked to programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study identified 63 implemented interventions (36 countries) and 28 planned interventions (21 countries), including 34 implemented interventions (22 countries) and 25 planned interventions (20 countries) that used MNP These interventions were expected to reach 17.2 million people in 2011, including 14.1 million participants in MNP interventions. Among implemented interventions, 16% distributed nationally. Most interventions used integrated approaches targeting young children. Recently, there was increasing expansion of interventions in Africa. The main challenges identified were monitoring and evaluation, adherence, product funding, and procurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home fortification interventions, especially those that use MNP, are increasing and scaling up rapidly in regions with widespread problems of micronutrient deficiencies and stunting. Home fortification interventions contribute to global initiatives to reduce undernutrition.
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. mjefferds@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jefferds
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irizarry
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timmer
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tripp
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005527:Food, Fortified; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011203:Poverty; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014480:United Nations
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients