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Nutrition communication using social-marketing techniques to combat vitamin A deficiency: results of summative evaluation

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Nayak, M. U., V. Shahnaz, et al. (2001). "Nutrition communication using social-marketing techniques to combat vitamin A deficiency: results of summative evaluation." Food and Nutrition Bulletin 22(4): 454-465.

Objective: The operational feasibility was investigated of adopting a social-marketing approach to develop a community programme of nutrition communication to promote consumption of vitamin A-rich foods.

Methods: Five comparable villages in a developmentally backward and drought-prone district in southern India (Andhra Pradesh) were selected [date not given]. In two experimental villages, social-marketing strategy was adopted for nutrition communication, while conventional nutritional education was implemented in two positive control villages. A large village did not receive any intervention and served as the negative control. This communication presents the results of the intervention programmes carried out in the study areas over a period of one year.

Results: The results indicated that the knowledge, attitude, and practices among mothers of preschool children about vitamin A improved significantly in the experimental area after intervention. There was a fourfold increase in the intake of vitamin A-rich foods among preschool children in the experimental area, as compared with a twofold increase in the positive control. There was no change in the negative control area. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of Bitot's spots after intervention in the experimental area (P<0.05). There was no change in the other two areas.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated the effectiveness of a social-marketing strategy for nutrition communication for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies and the need for adopting innovative strategies for communicating nutrition messages.