title: Patterns and determinants of small-quantity LNS utilization in rural Malawi and Mozambique: considerations for interventions with specialized nutritious foods.
abstract: Small-quantity, lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) show promise to improve the quality of maternal and child diets, particularly during the first 1000 days of life. The potential of SQ-LNS to impact positively upon nutritional status relies on numerous factors, including complementary dietary intake, disease prevalence and dynamics of household utilization, including sharing practices. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the patterns and determinants of SQ-LNS utilization among children 6-23 months and potential sharing practices of other household members prior to intervention development. In Ntchisi, Malawi and Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, both rural, agricultural settings, we conducted two home-feeding trials of 8 and 6 weeks, respectively, nested within a larger multi-phase, emergent formative research design. Multiple methods, including in-depth interviews (n = 38), direct meal observations (n = 80), full-day child observations (n = 38) and spot checks of SQ-LNS supply (n = 23), were conducted with households (n = 35 in Malawi; n = 24 in Mozambique). Overall, the SQ-LNS was utilized contrary to its recommended use, with 50% of households in Malawi reporting running out of stock too early and 87% of households in Mozambique either overusing or underusing the product. Utilization of SQ-LNS was manifested in four patterns of overuse and two of underuse and was determined by factors at multiple levels of influence. Maternal and child health efforts need to consider the reasons behind choices by households to overuse or underuse SQ-LNS and design intervention strategies to increase the likelihood of its appropriate utilization.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kodish
authors.affiliation: United Nations World Food Programme, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Aburto
authors.affiliation: United Nations World Food Programme, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: Mutinta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nseluke Hambayi
authors.affiliation: United Nations World Food Programme, Maputo, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dibari
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D009073:Mozambique; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012107:Research Design; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: formative research; infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices; intra-household sharing practices; qualitative research; small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS)