Background

NDRI carried out an evaluation study on the effectiveness of WHH’s nutrition camp approach to prevent acute malnutrition in Nepal. Nutrition is an indispensable part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved health, more robust immune systems, longevity, and increased productivity. However, today the world faces a double burden of malnutrition that includes both under- nutrition and overweight, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Malnutrition in Nepal is higher compared to the WHO global standards accounting for 25% stunted, 19% underweight, and 8% wasted children below 5 years (NDHS, 2022).
The nutrition camp was based on the concept of ‘Positive Deviance’ – the ‘Positive Deviance’ concept is a tool to promote behaviour and social change to organize various ‘Positive Deviance’-centred social change interventions around the world. ‘Positive Deviance’ Hearth interventions are community-based nutrition programmes for children who are at risk of malnutrition. The ‘Positive Deviance’ approach encourages local communities to find out solutions. ‘Positive Deviance’ Hearth interventions are community-based nutrition programmes for children who are at risk of malnutrition and has shown to be useful with its localized relevance and cost effectiveness of rehabilitating malnourished children in developing contexts.
 

Objective

To identify the relevance, effectiveness and scalability of ‘nutrition camp’ approach as compared to other ongoing approaches to prevent acute malnutrition in Nepal.
To provide concrete and context specific recommendations to WHH for further improvement of the approach 
To provide concrete recommendations to advocate towards policy makers and planners for further scaling up this approach into the IMAM program 

Methodology

An in- depth desk review was done of all the relevant documents (e.g., protocols, guidelines, project reports, evaluation report etc.) related to the implementation of nutrition camp approach through different projects (both on-going and completed) in Nepal by WHH and its partners. While the assessment primarily focused on qualitative data, there was also a need to include some quantitative data and results. As a result, semi-structured interviews was conducted with participants from the Nutrition Camps and mothers of malnourished children. Additionally, key informant interviews (KIIs) was carried out with other major stakeholders, such as representatives from local government, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), project team members, health workers, and any other relevant stakeholders of four districts- Salyan, Rolpa, Dhading, Saptari or Rautahat.

Study Team:

Dr. Rabita Shrestha Mulmi
Mr. Bhim Prasad Shrestha 
Mr. Rajendra Khatri
Ms. Kabita Yadav
Ms. Utasaha Gartaula
Ms. Karishma Bhandari