South Asia Nutrition Knowledge Initiative: Abstract Digest

South Asia Nutrition Knowledge Initiative: Abstract Digest
Author: International Food Policy Research Institute
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 23
Release: 2024-04-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Welcome to the first edition of South Asia Nutrition Knowledge Initiative’s (SANI) Abstract Digest! In each issue, we aim to curate a selection of the latest and relevant studies on maternal and child nutrition for the South Asia region. We conduct literature search across peer-reviewed journals and identify studies of relevance. The abstracts in this document are reproduced in their original form from their source, and without editorial commentary about specific articles. In this first edition, we include global studies on trends in malnutrition, health inequalities of common nutrition deficiencies in children and the importance of gender-sensitive social safety nets and nutritionspecific and -sensitive interventions in the low-and middle-income countries. There are interesting studies from South Asia with a focus on Bangladesh, India and Nepal on topics including geospatial and environmental determinants of undernutrition, dietary diversity assessment of pregnant adolescent girls and nutrition interventions such as mid-day meal program in India and Suaahara in Nepal. Below is the list of peer-reviewed articles. Please click on the title if you wish to go straight to the article or scroll down to explore the abstracts in the pages that follow. Happy reading! If this Abstract Digest was forwarded to you, we invite you to subscribe.

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 44

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 44
Author: Avula, Rasmi
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 18
Release: 2022-05-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Issue 44 of the POSHAN Abstract Digest, brings to you yet another collection of articles on various topics pertaining to maternal and child nutrition. This issue features several studies on the nutritional status of adolescents and the relationship between maternal dietary diversity and body composition with children’s health. A few studies look at coverage of nutrition and health interventions in the country, including the Anemia Mukt Bharat program and the National Rural Health mission.

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 41

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 41
Author: Avula, Rasmi, ed.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 13
Release: 2021-09-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The 41st issue of POSHAN Abstract Digest brings to you yet again a tailored set of articles on malnutrition in India. This issue features a studies examining trends in nutrition outcomes, inequities associated with anthropometric failure, and role of WASH in addressing undernutrition. In addition, this issue also features articles on the intergenerational benefits of India’s national school feeding program, effect of women’s labor force participation on nutrition, and the role of maternal empowerment and paternal gender-equitable attitudes on stunting.

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 37

POSHAN’s abstract digest on maternal and child nutrition research - Issue 37
Author: Avula, Rasmi, ed.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 15
Release: 2020-12-21
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Issue 37 of the Abstract Digest brings to you a set of global, regional, and India-focused articles on issues pertaining to undernutrition and its solutions. Global studies include the Optima Nutrition modelling assessing the likelihood of 129 countries reaching the global nutrition targets by 2030, a systematic review of economic evaluation of interventions to address undernutrition by scaling up proven interventions and identifying priority interventions, a study that identifies research priorities for social, behavioral and community engagement interventions for maternal and child health, and a review of literature on social accountability approaches. India-specific studies examine inequality in child undernutrition among urban populations, the economic feasibility of nutritionally adequate diets, and two studies focusing on frontline workers time use and factors influencing their performance. In this edition we have also included implementation research focused articles relevant for maternal and child health programs.

An evolving paradigm of agricultural mechanization development: How much can Africa learn from Asia?

An evolving paradigm of agricultural mechanization development: How much can Africa learn from Asia?
Author: Diao, Xinshen, ed.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 548
Release: 2020-12-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0896293807

Agricultural mechanization in Africa south of the Sahara — especially for small farms and businesses — requires a new paradigm to meet the needs of the continent’s evolving farming systems. Can Asia, with its recent success in adopting mechanization, offer a model for Africa? An Evolving Paradigm of Agricultural Mechanization Development analyzes the experiences of eight Asian and five African countries. The authors explore crucial government roles in boosting and supporting mechanization, from import policies to promotion policies to public good policies. Potential approaches presented to facilitating mechanization in Africa include prioritizing market-led hiring services, eliminating distortions, and developing appropriate technologies for the African context. The role of agricultural mechanization within overall agricultural and rural transformation strategies in Africa is also discussed. The book’s recommendations and insights should be useful to national policymakers and the development community, who can adapt this knowledge to local contexts and use it as a foundation for further research.

Women’s Empowerment and Nutrition

Women’s Empowerment and Nutrition
Author: Mara van den Bold
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2013-11-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN:

Many development programs that aim to alleviate poverty and improve investments in human capital consider women’s empowerment a key pathway by which to achieve impact and often target women as their main beneficiaries. Despite this, women’s empowerment dimensions are often not rigorously measured and are at times merely assumed. This paper starts by reflecting on the concept and measurement of women’s empowerment and then reviews some of the structural interventions that aim to influence underlying gender norms in society and eradicate gender discrimination. It then proceeds to review the evidence of the impact of three types of interventions—cash transfer programs, agricultural interventions, and microfinance programs—on women’s empowerment, nutrition, or both. Qualitative evidence on conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs generally points to positive impacts on women’s empowerment, although quantitative research findings are more heterogenous. CCT programs produce mixed results on long-term nutritional status, and very limited evidence exists of their impacts on micronutrient status. The little evidence available on unconditional cash transters (UCT) indicates mixed impacts on women’s empowerment and positive impacts on nutrition; however, recent reviews comparing CCT and UCT programs have found little difference in terms of their effects on stunting and they have found that conditionality is less important than other factors, such as access to healthcare and child age and sex. Evidence of cash transfer program impacts depending on the gender of the transfer recipient or on the conditionality is also mixed, although CCTs with non-health conditionalities seem to have negative impacts on nutritional status. The impacts of programs based on the gender of the transfer recipient show mixed results, but almost no experimental evidence exists of testing gender-differentiated impacts of a single program. Agricultural interventions—specifically home gardening and dairy projects—show mixed impacts on women’s empowerment measures such as time, workload, and control over income; but they demonstrate very little impact on nutrition. Implementation modalities are shown to determine differential impacts in terms of empowerment and nutrition outcomes. With regard to the impact of microfinance on women’s empowerment, evidence is also mixed, although more recent reviews do not find any impact on women’s empowerment. The impact of microfinance on nutritional status is mixed, with no evidence of impact on micronutrient status. Across all three types of programs (cash transfer programs, agricultural interventions, and microfinance programs), very little evidence exists on pathways of impact, and evidence is often biased toward a particular region. The paper ends with a discussion of the findings and remaining evidence gaps and an outline of recommendations for research.

Inventing the Pizzeria

Inventing the Pizzeria
Author: Antonio Mattozzi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2015-11-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 1472586182

Pizza is one of the best-known and widely exported Italian foods and yet relatively little is known about its origins in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Myths such as the naming of pizza margherita after the Italian queen abound, but little serious scholarly attention has been devoted to the topic. Eschewing exaggerated fables, this book draws a detailed portrait of the difficulties experienced by the then marginalized class of pizza makers, rather than the ultimate success of their descendants. It provides a unique exploration of the history of pizza making in Naples, offering an archival-based history of the early story of pizza and the establishment of the pizzeria. Touching upon issues of politics, economics and sociology, Inventing the Pizzeria contributes not only to the commercial, social and food history of Italy but also provides an urban history of a major European city, told through one of its most famous edible exports. Originally published in Italian, this English edition is updated with a revised introduction and conclusion, a new preface and additional images and sources.

FUTURE SMART FOOD

FUTURE SMART FOOD
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2018-10-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9251304955

This publication demonstrates the benefits of neglected and underutilized species, including amaranth, sorghum and cowpea, and their potential contribution to achieving Zero Hunger in South and Southeast Asia.

Food Security in Asia and the Pacific

Food Security in Asia and the Pacific
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2013-08-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9292542257

This synthesis report is the result of close, collaborative research initiated by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; and the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia. Fourteen background papers were commissioned to investigate food security issues particularly pertinent for Asia and the Pacific. The report synthesizes and collates the primary findings from these papers to articulate key policy challenges and opportunities related to food security in the region.