Evaluation Research of the Nutrition Interventions in the INHP II Areas of CARE-India

CARE-India's Integrated Nutrition and Health Program (INHP) supports the efforts of the Government of India to improve nutrition status of women and children in India through the Integrated Child Development Services program.

The INHP-II “basic” package of interventions focuses on reducing the prevalence of childhood underweight and anemia within the framework of existing national programs and policies. This basic package is scheduled for large-scale implementation in eight additional states as part of INHP-II.

The package includes prenatal nutrition, early initiation of and sustained exclusive breastfeeding for six months, continuation of breastfeeding with appropriate complementary feeding from 6-24 months (including feeding during and after illness), and iron and vitamin A supplements for children. It is part of a broader package of essential child health and nutrition interventions that also include newborn health and routine immunization.

This is an evaluation research study in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh of India that assesses the impact of the basic Nutrition Intervention Package implemented by CARE-India on malnutrition, anemia, and healthy child feeding practices among children ages 0-23 months.

Investigators
JHSPH:  Michele L. Dreyfuss, Laura E. Caulfield, Abdullah H. Baqui, Saifuddin Ahmed, Robert E. Black, Mathuram Santosham

King George Medical University: Vinod Srivastava, Ramesh Ahuja

Publications
Evaluation Research of the Nutrition Interventions in the Integrated Nutrition and Health Program (INHP) II Areas of CARE India. Final Report, January 2008. Baltimore: USAID and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.