Chatbots for Nutrition SBCC
Summary:
Recognizing that proactive engagement with communities is key to the success of nutrition and food security programmes, WFP has developed two-way communication tools such as chatbots and Light Weight Websites (LWW) to improve programme outcomes. These tools allow WFP to have more frequent communication with the communities it serves; these, in turn, improve the effectiveness of the WFP nutrition programmes. Nutrition SBCC facilitates individuals and households to adopt improved nutrition-related practices, such as improved dietary and hygiene practices, optimal infant and young child feeding and care practices, and which can be sustained even after the end of direct nutrition support. Given that most underlying causes of undernutrition are behaviour-related, effective and efficient SBCC is paramount to the prevention and management of undernutrition, Leveraging chatbots to improve nutrition SBCC has the potential to maximize the impact of WFP's SBCC activities and improve nutrition outcomes within WFP-supported malnutrition programmes.
Background/Objectives:
The overall objective of the initiative was to develop an approach for the use of two-way communication technologies such as chatbots, interactive voice response, and light-weight websites to support improved nutrition SBCC activities. A key objective of the project is also to assess the impact of technology on improving nutrition-related knowledge and psycho-social determinants of behavior, as well as nutrition outcomes.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
In Nigeria, a chatbot has been developed and used as part of a larger nutrition SBCC project that leverages various two-way communication technologies, along with traditional methods to improve the ongoing nutrition behavior change activities. The chatbot is targeted to community health care workers who have the ability to interact with the chatbot and receive information on optimal nutrition practices. In Senegal, WFP has developed a chatbot to facilitate holistic management of acute malnutrition by providing integrated communication channels between communities and the health system. The chatbot provides key information to support health workers with the diagnosis and referral of children with acute malnutrition and health complications. It is intended to be integrated within the Communication Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) strategy of the government.
Results/Lessons Learned:
User-testing activities with health workers were conducted in Nigeria and Senegal, and the content and design of the respective chatbots were reviewed based on the feedback from the user testing activities, It was found that the majority of health workers in both countries own smartphones and were comfortable chatting with the chatbot, they also found it useful for the jobs. However, the biggest challenge has been the small user base due to the lack of network connectivity and incentive for health workers to use their phone data for chatting with the bot. In Nigeria, the chatbot was designed for the North East, the region with ongoing conflict and also the highest burden of malnutrition in Nigeria. In such a context, the chatbot has the potential to reach health workers from hard to access and insecure areas who would otherwise not have access to critical information.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Coupling chatbots and such technology with traditional SBCC activities will empower communities with increased nutrition knowledge and provide a unique opportunity to harness new, innovative ways to improve nutrition outcomes. However, the field challenges needs to be overcome by through further research and investment into user-testing activities, and designing a product that best serves the needs of the users. Additionally, it is critical to assess the impact of technology such as Chatbots in improving nutrition-related behaviors and outcomes of the communities served by humanitarian and development agencies.
Abstract submitted by:
Kusum Hachhethu - World Food Programme (WFP)
Recognizing that proactive engagement with communities is key to the success of nutrition and food security programmes, WFP has developed two-way communication tools such as chatbots and Light Weight Websites (LWW) to improve programme outcomes. These tools allow WFP to have more frequent communication with the communities it serves; these, in turn, improve the effectiveness of the WFP nutrition programmes. Nutrition SBCC facilitates individuals and households to adopt improved nutrition-related practices, such as improved dietary and hygiene practices, optimal infant and young child feeding and care practices, and which can be sustained even after the end of direct nutrition support. Given that most underlying causes of undernutrition are behaviour-related, effective and efficient SBCC is paramount to the prevention and management of undernutrition, Leveraging chatbots to improve nutrition SBCC has the potential to maximize the impact of WFP's SBCC activities and improve nutrition outcomes within WFP-supported malnutrition programmes.
Background/Objectives:
The overall objective of the initiative was to develop an approach for the use of two-way communication technologies such as chatbots, interactive voice response, and light-weight websites to support improved nutrition SBCC activities. A key objective of the project is also to assess the impact of technology on improving nutrition-related knowledge and psycho-social determinants of behavior, as well as nutrition outcomes.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
In Nigeria, a chatbot has been developed and used as part of a larger nutrition SBCC project that leverages various two-way communication technologies, along with traditional methods to improve the ongoing nutrition behavior change activities. The chatbot is targeted to community health care workers who have the ability to interact with the chatbot and receive information on optimal nutrition practices. In Senegal, WFP has developed a chatbot to facilitate holistic management of acute malnutrition by providing integrated communication channels between communities and the health system. The chatbot provides key information to support health workers with the diagnosis and referral of children with acute malnutrition and health complications. It is intended to be integrated within the Communication Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) strategy of the government.
Results/Lessons Learned:
User-testing activities with health workers were conducted in Nigeria and Senegal, and the content and design of the respective chatbots were reviewed based on the feedback from the user testing activities, It was found that the majority of health workers in both countries own smartphones and were comfortable chatting with the chatbot, they also found it useful for the jobs. However, the biggest challenge has been the small user base due to the lack of network connectivity and incentive for health workers to use their phone data for chatting with the bot. In Nigeria, the chatbot was designed for the North East, the region with ongoing conflict and also the highest burden of malnutrition in Nigeria. In such a context, the chatbot has the potential to reach health workers from hard to access and insecure areas who would otherwise not have access to critical information.
Discussion/Implications for the Field:
Coupling chatbots and such technology with traditional SBCC activities will empower communities with increased nutrition knowledge and provide a unique opportunity to harness new, innovative ways to improve nutrition outcomes. However, the field challenges needs to be overcome by through further research and investment into user-testing activities, and designing a product that best serves the needs of the users. Additionally, it is critical to assess the impact of technology such as Chatbots in improving nutrition-related behaviors and outcomes of the communities served by humanitarian and development agencies.
Abstract submitted by:
Kusum Hachhethu - World Food Programme (WFP)
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: WFP