Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies and programs in South Asia?

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies and programs in South Asia?
Author: Jangid, Manita
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 10
Release: 2021-07-16
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global nutrition and health agencies recommend nutrition actions throughout the life-course to address malnutrition in all its forms. As global recommendations are updated based on available evidence, it is anticipated that governments and stakeholders will, in turn, build on these recommendations to update national policies and programs. Little is known in the South Asia region about policy coherence with globally recommended actions. Even less is known about the degree to which countries are able to track their progress on nutrition actions. To address the gap, this brief summarizes the policy and program gaps in addressing nutrition actions, along with data gaps in population-based surveys in all the countries in the South Asia region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Bhutan?

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Bhutan?
Author: Jangid, Manita
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2021-07-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global nutrition and health agencies recommend nutrition actions throughout the life-course in order to address malnutrition in all its forms. In this report, we examined how Bhutan’s nutrition policies and programs addressed recommended nutrition actions, determinants, and outcomes. We reviewed population-based surveys to assess the availability of data on nutrition actions, nutrition outcomes, and the determinants of these outcomes; we also assessed the data availability in administrative data systems for selected nutrition actions and outcomes. Our policy review identified a total of 53 recommended nutrition actions; of which, 48 were applicable in Bhutan; of those, Bhutan’s nutrition policies addressed 46 and programs addressed 41. Nutrition actions that were not included in current policies and programs were: iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and deworming during preconception, food supplementation for malnourished lactating women, and IFA supplementation during early childhood. Policies addressed four actions for which there were no programs to implement it: daily IFA supplementation and deworming during preconception, advice about weight gain after weighing during pregnancy, outpatient management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) during early childhood. National strategies and plans recognized and aimed to address all key determinants of nutrition except coverage under social protection schemes. National strategies and plans showed an intention to track progress of all other nutrition outcome indicators except underweight among non-pregnant women 15 to 49 years, overweight among school children and adolescents five to 19 years, and hypertension among adults. Of 41 actions that Bhutan’s policies and programs addressed, our data review found that population-based surveys contained data on only 17 actions; similarly, out of 15 actions we reviewed in the administrative data systems, data was available on seven actions. Data was not available from population-based surveys on a number of indicators, including those related to IFA supplementation, deworming, and food supplementation during adolescence; calcium supplementation, deworming, weight monitoring, and counseling during pregnancy; newborn care during delivery and the postnatal period; and infant and young child feeding (IYCF), growth monitoring, immunization, identification and management of SAM and MAM during early childhood. Population-based surveys contained data on 18 of 20 indicators on immediate and underlying determinants. Data on dietary diversity among pregnant women and on coverage of households under social protection schemes were not available in either the administrative data systems or the population-based surveys. The population-based surveys contained data on all nutrition outcomes except overweight among adolescents. In conclusion, Bhutan’s policy landscape for nutrition is robust. The gaps in availability of data for tracking progress on nutrition are large, however, and much greater than are the gap in policies and programs for addressing recommended actions. Future population-based surveys and modifications of other data systems should aim to fill the identified data gaps for nutrition action and outcome indicators.

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Pakistan?

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Pakistan?
Author: Neupane, Sumanta
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 46
Release: 2021-07-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global nutrition and health agencies recommend nutrition actions throughout the life-course to address malnutrition in all its forms. In this report, we examined how Pakistan’s nutrition policies and programs addressed recommended nutrition actions, nutrition outcomes, and the determinants of these outcomes. We reviewed population-based surveys and administrative data systems to assess the availability of data on nutrition actions and on indicators of determinants and outcomes. Our policy review identified a total of 53 recommended evidence-based nutrition actions, of which 51 were applicable to Pakistan; of those, 47 were addressed in nutrition policies and programs. Nutrition actions not included in current policies and programs were: daily iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and deworming during preconception; and food supplementation for complementary feeding, and daily IFA supplementation during early childhood. The Pakistan Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy (PMNS) (2018–2025) was found to recognize and address all the key determinants of nutrition; it also expressed an intent to address all the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) nutrition targets for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Targets for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were not currently set in the national strategies. Our data review found that, out of 47 actions that policies and programs addressed, population-based surveys contained data on 26 actions and administrative data sources contained data on 22 actions. Neither surveys nor administrative sources contained data on any actions aimed at adolescence, on energy and protein dietary supplements, on various types of counseling, on birth preparedness during pregnancy, or on optimal timing (delayed) of umbilical cord clamping; they also did not contain data on indicators related to newborn care, IFA supplementation around delivery and in the postpartum period, or counseling after growth monitoring during early childhood. The data gaps in population-based surveys on nutrition actions during early childhood were compensated for by the data on these nutrition actions that was available from administrative sources. Neither of the population-based surveys contained data on nutrition actions during early childhood such as breastfeeding counseling, counseling on appropriate complementary feeding, growth monitoring, and identification and management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), or management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM); administrative data sources, however, contained data on these actions. Population-based surveys contained data on most of the indicators on immediate and underlying determinants of undernutrition, but administrative data sources lacked data on indicators of immediate determinants. Population-based surveys contained data on all outcome indicators. In conclusion, Pakistan’s policy landscape for nutrition is robust, but there is limited consideration of targets for NCDs. The gaps in data availability for tracking progress on nutrition are much greater than are the gaps in policies and programs for addressing the recommended actions. Future population-based surveys and future modifications of other data systems should aim to fill the identified data gaps for nutrition actions.

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Nepal?

Are data available for tracking progress on nutrition policies, programs, and outcomes in Nepal?
Author: Neupane, Sumanta
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2021-07-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global nutrition and health agencies recommend nutrition actions throughout the life-course to address malnutrition in all its forms. In this report, we examined how Nepal’s nutrition policies and programs addressed recommended nutrition actions, nutrition outcomes, and the determinants of these outcomes. We reviewed population-based surveys and administrative data systems in order to assess the data availability on nutrition actions, and on the indicators of determinants and outcomes. Our policy review identified a total of 53 recommended evidence-based nutrition actions, of which 50 nutrition actions were applicable in Nepal. Of these, 45 were addressed in the country’s nutrition policies and programs and some of the actions were only available in some districts. Nutrition actions that were not included in current policies and programs included calcium supplementation and advice on consuming calcium during pregnancy, and daily iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation during childhood. Current policies addressed daily or intermittent IFA supplementation during preconception and food supplementation for malnourished lactating women during the postnatal period; however, there was no program to implement these actions. Nepal’s Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) recognized and addressed all key determinants of nutrition; it also expressed an intent to address all SDG nutrition targets for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), however, were addressed separately by a multisectoral plan for NCDs. Our data review found that out of 45 actions that policies and programs addressed, population-based surveys contained data on only 27 actions and administrative data systems contained data on only 25 actions. Population-based surveys and administrative data sources contained no data on: food supplementation during adolescence; weight monitoring and various types of counseling during pregnancy; optimal timing (delayed) of umbilical cord clamping, support for breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin contact, optimal feeding of low-birth-weight infants and counseling of mothers of low-birth-weight infants on kangaroo mother care (KMC) during delivery and in the postpartum period; breastfeeding counseling, counseling on appropriate complementary feeding, counseling after growth monitoring, and inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) during early childhood. Population-based surveys contained data on most of the indicators of immediate and underlying determinants, while administrative data systems did not have data on all indicators of immediate determinants. Data on all indicators of nutrition outcomes were available from population-based surveys. In conclusion, Nepal’s policy and program landscape for nutrition is robust, however the gaps in data availability for tracking progress on nutrition actions are much larger than the gap in policies and programs for addressing recommended actions. Future population-based surveys and modifications of administrative data systems should aim to fill the identified data gaps for nutrition actions.

Global Nutrition Report 2014

Global Nutrition Report 2014
Author: International Food Policy Research Institute
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 118
Release: 2014-11-13
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0896295648

At the 2013 Nutrition for Growth Summit in London, 96 signatories (governments, civil society organizations, donors, United Nations’ agencies, and businesses) agreed to support the creation of an annual report on global nutrition that would be authored by an independent expert group, in partnership with a large number of contributors. The first edition of this report, the Global Nutrition Report 2014, puts a spotlight on worldwide progress by the 193 member countries of the United Nations in improving their nutrition status, identifies bottlenecks to change, highlights opportunities for action, and contributes to strengthened nutrition accountability on country and global levels.

Nourishing millions: Stories of change in nutrition: Synopsis

Nourishing millions: Stories of change in nutrition: Synopsis
Author: Yosef, Sivan
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 8
Release: 2016-06-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0896299902

In recent years, the world has seen unprecedented attention and political commitment to addressing malnutrition. Milestones such as the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the Lancet Maternal and Child Nutrition Series, and the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) have marked the rapid rise of nutrition on the global policy and research agenda. These developments reverse years of relative neglect for nutrition. Undernutrition is a global challenge with huge social and economic costs. It kills millions of young children annually, stunts growth, erodes child development, reduces the amount of schooling children attain, and increases the likelihood of their being poor as adults, if they survive. Stunting persists through a lifetime and beyond—underweight mothers are more likely to give birth to underweight children, perpetuating undernutrition across generations. Undernutrition reduces global gross domestic product by US$1.4–$2.1 trillion a year—the size of the total economy of Africa south of the Sahara.

Availability of data on diets in South Asia: A data availability assessment for Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan

Availability of data on diets in South Asia: A data availability assessment for Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan
Author: Scott, Samuel
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 12
Release: 2023-02-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

ABOUT THIS NOTE This research note presents findings on the availability of diet-related data in publiclyavailable population-based surveys conducted in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan in the last decade. It is intended to be used by researchers and policymakers to understand the data landscape and identify measurement priorities for future surveys. KEY FINDINGS • Data on diets for older children and adolescents are captured less frequently than for younger children and women of reproductive age. • Data are mostly available on food group consumption and for infants and young children; data on consumption of unhealthy foods is poor. • Few surveys capture quantity of foods consumed; estimating nutrient intake from population-based surveys is therefore not possible. • Only Bangladesh currently has large-scale publicly available and repeated rounds of data on dietary intakes for multiple age groups. • Dietary data are essential to shape public policy on nutrition; financial and technical investments are needed to scale up data availability in South Asia.

Ready to Learn

Ready to Learn
Author: Tara Beteille
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 374
Release: 2020-03-06
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1464813396

Countries that have sustained rapid growth over decades have typically had a strong public commitment to expanding education as well as to improving learning outcomes. South Asian countries have made considerable progress in expanding access to primary and secondary schooling, with countries having achieved near-universal enrollment of the primary-school-age cohort (ages 6†“11), except for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Secondary enrollment shows an upward trend as well. Beyond school, many more people have access to skilling opportunities and higher education today. Although governments have consistently pursued policies to expand access, a prominent feature of the region has been the role played by nonstate actors—private nonprofit and forprofit entities—in expanding access at every level of education. Though learning levels remain low, countries in the region have shown a strong commitment to improving learning. All countries in South Asia have taken the first step, which is to assess learning outcomes regularly. Since 2010, there has been a rapid increase in the number of large-scale student learning assessments conducted in the region. But to use the findings of these assessments to improve schooling, countries must build their capacity to design assessments and analyze and use findings to inform policy.

Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in South Asia

Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in South Asia
Author: Sameh El-Saharty
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2016-11-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 146480964X

South Asia Region (SAR) has decreased maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 65 percent between 1990 and 2013, which was the greatest progress among all world regions. Such achievement implores the question, What made SAR stand out against what is predicted by standard socioeconomic outcomes? Improving Maternal and Reproductive Health in South Asia: Drivers and Enablers identifies the interventions and factors that contributed to reducing MMR and improving maternal and reproductive health (MRH) outcomes in SAR. In this study, the analytical framework assumes that improving MRH outcomes is influenced by a multitude of forces from within and outside the health system and considers factors at the household and community levels, as well as interventions in other sectors and factors in the enabling environment. The analysis is based on a structured literature review of the interventions in SAR countries, relevant international experience, and review of the best available evidence from systematic reviews. The focus of the analysis is mainly on assessing the effectiveness of interventions. The findings from this study indicate that the most effective interventions that prevent maternal mortality are those that address the intra-partum stage - the point where most maternal deaths occur - and include improving skilled birth attendance coverage, increasing institutional delivery rates, and scaling up access to emergency obstetric care. There is also adequate evidence that investing in family planning to increase contraceptive use also played a key role during the inter-partum phase by preventing unwanted pregnancies and thus averting the risk of maternal mortality in SAR countries. Outside the programmatic interventions, the levels of household income, women’s education, and completion of secondary education of girls were also strongly correlated with improved MRH outcomes. Also, there is strong evidence that health financing schemes - both demand and supply side - and conditional cash transfer programs were effective in increasing the uptake of MRH services. The study points out to many other interventions with different degrees of effectiveness. The study also identified four major reasons for why SAR achieved this progress in MMR reduction. The best practices and evidence of what works synthesized in this study provide an important way forward for low- and middle-income countries toward achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
Author: Olle Ljungqvist
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 630
Release: 2020-03-30
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3030334430

This book is the first comprehensive, authoritative reference that provides a broad and comprehensive overview of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). Written by experts in the field, chapters analyze elements of care that are both generic and specific to various surgeries. It covers the patient journey through such a program, commencing with optimization of the patient’s condition, patient education, and conditioning of their expectations. Organized into nine parts, this book discusses metabolic responses to surgery, anaesthetic contributions, and optimal fluid management after surgery. Chapters are supplemented with examples of ERAS pathways and practical tips on post-operative pain control, feeding, mobilization, and criteria for discharge. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: A Complete Guide to Optimizing Outcomes is an indispensable manual that thoroughly explores common post-operative barriers and challenges.