The cost of improving nutritional outcomes through food‐assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programs in Burundi and Guatemala

cg.authorship.typesCGIAR single centre
cg.contributor.crpAgriculture for Nutrition and Health
cg.contributor.donorUnited States Agency for International Development
cg.coverage.countryBurundi
cg.coverage.countryGuatemala
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2BI
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2GT
cg.coverage.regionCentral America
cg.coverage.regionMiddle Africa
cg.coverage.regionWestern Africa
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionSub-saharan Africa
cg.coverage.regionLatin America
cg.coverage.regionNorthern America
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierJessica Heckert: 0000-0002-3022-8298
cg.creator.identifierJef L Leroy: 0000-0001-9371-3832
cg.creator.identifierDeanna Olney: 0000-0002-2420-8565
cg.creator.identifierElyse Iruhiriye: 0000-0001-5950-4017
cg.creator.identifierMarie Ruel: 0000-0002-9506-348X
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12863
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division
cg.identifier.publicationRankA
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn1740-8695
cg.issue1
cg.journalMaternal and Child Nutrition
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.volume16
dc.contributor.authorHeckert, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorLeroy, Jef L.
dc.contributor.authorOlney, Deanna K.
dc.contributor.authorRitcher, Susan
dc.contributor.authorIruhiriye, Elyse
dc.contributor.authorRuel, Marie T.
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-22T12:11:04Zen
dc.date.available2024-05-22T12:11:04Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/142789
dc.titleThe cost of improving nutritional outcomes through food‐assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programs in Burundi and Guatemalaen
dcterms.abstractEvidence on the cost‐effectiveness of multisectoral maternal and child health and nutrition programmes is scarce. We conducted a prospective costing study of two food‐assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programmes targeted to pregnant women and children during the first 1,000 days (pregnancy to 2 years). Each was paired with a cluster‐randomized controlled trial to evaluate impact and compare the optimal quantity and composition of food rations (Guatemala, five treatment arms) and their optimal timing and duration (Burundi, three treatment arms). We calculated the total and per beneficiary cost, conducted cost consequence analyses, and estimated the cost savings from extending the programme for 2 years. In Guatemala, the programme model with the lowest cost per percentage point reduction in stunting provided the full‐size family ration with an individual ration of corn–soy blend or micronutrient powder. Reducing family ration size lowered costs but failed to reduce stunting. In Burundi, providing food assistance for the full 1,000 days led to the lowest cost per percentage point reduction in stunting. Reducing the duration of ration eligibility reduced per beneficiary costs but was less effective. A 2‐year extension could have saved 11% per beneficiary in Guatemala and 18% in Burundi. We found that investments in multisectoral nutrition programmes do not scale linearly. Programmes providing smaller rations or rations for shorter durations, although less expensive per beneficiary, may not provide the necessary dose to improve (biological) outcomes. Lastly, delivering effective programmes for longer periods can generate cost savings by dispersing start‐up costs and lengthening peak operating capacity.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.bibliographicCitationHeckert, Jessica; Leroy, Jef L.; Olney, Deanna K.; Ritcher, Susan; Iruhiriye, Elyse; and Ruel, Marie T. 2020. The cost of improving nutritional outcomes through food‐assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programs in Burundi and Guatemala. Maternal and Child Nutrition 16(1): e12863. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12863en
dcterms.issued2020-01-01
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherWiley
dcterms.replaceshttps://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll5/id/6704
dcterms.subjectmaternal and child healthen
dcterms.subjectcostsen
dcterms.subjectprogrammesen
dcterms.subjectchild healthen
dcterms.subjectfood rationingen
dcterms.subjectnutritionen
dcterms.subjectcost analysisen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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