Assessing the Modalities of Delivering the Community-Based Nutrition Education Interventions in Namalu Sub County in Nakapiripirit district.

The study specifically sought to assess the modalities of delivering the community-based nutrition education interventions. The study was motivated by persistent high levels of child malnutrition in the sub region. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 362 households using questionnaires. The study also used Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key informant interviews to collect qualitative data. This study found that almost three quarters of the child caretakers had accessed community-based nutrition education programs mainly from health workers from government owned health facilities who educated mothers and child caretakers during routine integrated community medical outreaches and camps. UN agencies like WFP and UNICEF as well as other NGOs also supported and implemented the community-based education interventions in the study area.  Overall, the interventions seem to be well implemented by the partners and was effective in improving malnutrition in the Namalu Sub County in Nakapiripirit district.

In this study, it was established that home visits were the most effective methods of delivering community-based nutrition education interventions while mass media and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material were the least effective because most people did not have access to radio and Television and could not read the IEC material because of low literacy levels. The study found that community-based education nutrition improved the nutritional knowledge and practices among the caretakers as well as the nutrition status of children under five years of age in the study area. The study concluded that community-based nutrition education improves under five child nutrition. It is recommended that the implementing partners should improve the delivery of the intervention to enhance its effectiveness in improving under five child nutrition status.

Keywords: Child malnutrition, nutrition education, NGOs and Modalities.