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Poverty rates in Cambodia have declined over the past decade, but malnutrition rates remain high and complementary feeding practices remain poor. Every year, more than 6,000 Cambodian children under five die from maternal malnutrition, underweight and wasting, inadequate infant feeding practices or micronutrient deficiencies. For infants and children under two years of age, the consequences of malnutrition are particularly severe, often irreversible and far-reaching. Malnutrition leads to stunted growth in children, undermining human capital and economic productivity. To help combat the effects of malnutrition, FAO launched a 42-month Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture project in northern Cambodia in 2011: Improving Food Security and Market Linkages among Smallholder Farmers in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey (MALIS). The project focuses on improving food security by increasing the capacity of smallholder farmers to diversify production, increase productivity and build resilience, and improve household feeding practices.
Nutrition education is a key component of improving diets
The nutrition education component of the project was launched in 16 villages in Preah Vihear province and 19 villages in Oddar Meanchey province in 2013. 1,387 volunteer Community Nutrition Promoters (CNPs) for infants and young children aged 6 to 18 months were trained on improving infant and young child feeding, hygiene and food safety practices.
Participatory cooking demonstrations were also held in collaboration with the Provincial Health Department, District Health Centres, Provincial Department of Women’s Affairs and NGOs (Malteser International and Farmers’ Livelihood Development Organisation) to allow caregivers to learn how to prepare an improved thick multi-ingredient porridge (bobor khap krop kroeung) using local foods, and how to be flexible in feeding young children.
The final nutrition education session and graduation ceremony took place in early 2014.
Improved complementary feeding plays key role in household food and nutrition security
To improve the quality of nutrition education interventions, this project focused on identifying factors that facilitate caregiver behavior change related to complementary feeding.
The results of the knowledge, attitude and practice study showed that most caregivers improved their hygiene habits, especially washing hands with soap before cooking and feeding their children. The study also pointed out that caregivers improved their knowledge of age-appropriate feeding and they believed that learning better child feeding practices was important. Most of the caregivers interviewed prepared rich 4 to 6 times per week Some caregivers even prepare this food for their children every day. As a result of the improved nutrition, the children cry less, have healthier skin, suffer less diarrhea, and gain weight.
In order to convince nursing staff that beaverFAO conducted complementary feeding activities in 35 villages from February to March 2014. Cooking demonstrations and tasting of Bobo were conducted by all villagers, followed by a week-long distribution of Bobo, which was provided three times a day to children aged 6-23 months. Overall feedback from caregivers was positive and the children enjoyed the food.
The MALIS nutrition team also produced new training materials, designed nutrition education posters for trainers and caregivers, developed nutrition modules for farmer field schools, and created a food availability calendar to promote the use of diverse foods during different seasons.
Success can only be maintained through continuous follow-up
Since the project began, a total of 1,387 caregivers of infants and young children aged 6 to 18 months have participated in nutrition education sessions in 99 villages.
The project demonstrated that local foods play an important role in improving food and nutrition security for family members in rural Cambodia, particularly for children through improved complementary feeding.
To measure the quality of the project, FAO receives regular feedback from caregivers and trainers and conducts follow-up home visits with implementing partners to reinforce nutrition education messages and observe whether villagers’ behavior has changed as a result of improved complementary feeding practices.
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