The Promotion Of Nutrient-Dense Foods In Andasibe, Madagascar

Purpose: Due to a lack of resources, Madagascar has high levels of poverty and malnutrition. Nutrition education has shown to be an effective approach to increasing health in low-resource areas worldwide. The purpose of this study was to pilot a tailored nutrition education program to improve diet diversity and health promoting practices in Andasibe, Madagascar. Methods: Twenty caregivers were recruited. Diet diversity and nutrition knowledge were assessed using a pre/post-test design. Nutritional status was assessed using height, weight, mid-upper-arm circumference measurements, and Raman spectroscopy technology. The intervention consisted of individualized counseling sessions with education materials. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests. Results: Significant increases were found in the consumption of vitamin A-rich foods for adults (p = 0.01), and the use of treated water to wash fruits and vegetables before consumption (p = 0.01). All but one caregiver (95.0%) made dietary changes by increasing diet diversity and by focusing on colorful foods. Conclusions: Findings suggested nutrition education was effective in increasing nutrition knowledge. Further, an individualized approach to education in a low resource country can improve diet diversity, nutrition knowledge, and health practices with potential to increase the consumption of foods associated with micronutrient deficiencies.