Nutrition
The document library features summaries and links to editorially-selected publications on the key themes of health, education, nutrition, social protection and WASH. The documents are sourced from academic research, policy papers and global development organisations.
Leadership has been identified as a key factor in supporting action on nutrition in countries experiencing a high burden of childhood undernutrition. This study of individuals identified as influential within nutrition in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya and India examines why particular individuals champion nutrition policy, and how they operate in the wider policy and political… Read more
Despite economic growth, government latrine construction, and increasing recognition among policy-makers that it constitutes a health and human capital crisis, open defecation remains stubbornly widespread in rural India. Indeed, 67% of rural Indian households in the 2011 census reported defecating in the open. We present evidence from new survey data collected in villages in five… Read more
The 2013 HANCI report, released in June 2014, builds upon the previous findings first presented in April 2013. It uses the same methodology to give an updated picture drawing on the latest available secondary data. New primary research is presented from 6 HANCI countries – Bangladesh, India, Malawi, Nepal, Tanzania and Zambia. The HANCI project… Read more
The “Assessing the Strength of Evidence” How to Note aims to help all DFID staff appreciate better the strength of evidence they are using to inform their policy and programming choices. DFID is making the guidance publically available, as it may be helpful to researchers and policy makers in government departments, research institutes and funding… Read more
Shifts in society, demography, technology and the environment are significantly impacting the global burden of disease, with non-communicable disease (NCD) on the rise. Almost half of all deaths attributable to NCD have nutrition as the predominant risk factor (cardiovascular diseases and diabetes). This briefing provides an overview of policy options that have been or could… Read more
Even though progress towards the Millennium Development Goal target represents important gains in access for billions of people around the world, it has been uneven. Sharp geographic, sociocultural and economic inequalities in access persist and sometimes have increased. This report presents examples of unequal progress among marginalized and vulnerable groups. Section 1 presents the status of… Read more
Malnutrition remains a major challenge for public health and for human and economic development in India. A lack of adequately trained public health professionals and nutritionists means that this challenge is not being met. Due to resource constraints, the most realistic way of improving this situation is to optimise the use of existing infrastructure. The… Read more
This report is based on a master set of data that has been compiled by an Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the General Assembly for periodic assessment of progress towards the MDGs. The… Read more
Superfood for Babies is a global call to action to rediscover the importance of breastfeeding and to support mothers to breastfeed their babies – especially in the poorest communities in the poorest countries. The four major barriers that prevent mothers from breastfeeding are examined: community and cultural pressures the shortage of health workers lack of maternity… Read more
This paper presents the results of a cluster randomised trial into the effects on morbidity of the provision of zinc, iron and micronutrients on young Pakistani children. Iron and other micronutrients in powder form are recommended as a strategy to prevent childhood nutritional anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies. This study focuses on the effects of… Read more
This paper provides comment on how improving the nutrition sensitivity of food systems has potential to realise outcomes, yet despite this knowledge there is still inaction. This may be due to goals other than improved nutrition are pursued by strong economic and political interests in both the agricultural sector and the postharvest value chain. A… Read more