title: Identifying acceptability and price points for purchasing micronutrient powders for children 2 to 5 years old in Nepal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about purchasing micronutrient powders (MNP) for children 2-5 years. We describe acceptability for purchasing and price points for MNP for children 2-5 years among caregivers living in districts where free MNP are distributed for children 6-23 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crosssectional surveys conducted 3 months after MNP program implementation in 2 districts; 15 months after implementation in 2 different districts. Chi square tests and logistic regression describe associations among sociodemographics and program exposure factors and acceptability of purchasing MNP among 1,261 mothers of children 6-23 months who had heard of MNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 77.5% and 86.1% of mothers reported acceptability for purchasing MNP in the 3 and 15 month surveys, respectively. Positive pricing attitude (PPA) about paying 150 Nepali rupees for 60 sachets of MNP was reported by 66.3% and 73.4% of mothers. Acceptability for purchasing MNP in both time periods increased with higher wealth quintile and higher maternal education; PPA increased with higher maternal education. Controlling for socio-demographics, program exposure factors associated with acceptability for purchasing MNP included: lack of perceived barriers to MNP intake and health worker counselling (3 month surveys); knowledge of benefits of MNP intake and lack of perceived barriers to MNP intake (15 month surveys).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mothers reported acceptability for purchasing MNP and PPA for older children in Nepal. Differences in acceptability were found across socio-demographics and program exposures. Use of these results and further exploration into actual purchasing behaviour can inform future MNP distribution methods in Nepal.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA USA.
authors.forename: Rajni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunnala
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Cria G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Perrine
authors.affiliation: Child Health Division, Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, Teku, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Giriraj
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Subedi
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Country Office, UN House, Pulchowk, Nepal.
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mebrahtu
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Country Office, UN House, Pulchowk, Nepal.
authors.forename: Pradiumna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dahal
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA. Email: MJefferds@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jefferds
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D008903:Minerals; D009390:Nepal; D011208:Powders; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014815:Vitamins
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D011208:Powders; D014815:Vitamins