A presentation given by Lensse Gobu at the Transform Nutrition regional meeting 'Using evidence to inspire action in East Africa' Nairobi, Kenya 8 June 2017.

1. Behavioral Change for Improved Nutrition
among pastoralists in Ethiopia (BCIN)
06/29/17 BCIN_VSF-Suisse, Ethiopia 1

2. Behavioral Change for Improved Nutrition
among pastoralists in Ethiopia (BCIN)
Lensse Gobu (BSc, MPH)
June 8 2017,
Southern Sun hotel
Nairobi, Kenya
06/29/17 2

3. Presentation outline
• Background, the context
• Methodology of the research
• Main findings
• Conclusion and recommendation
• Initiatives that were already taken up
06/29/17 BCIN_VSF-Suisse, Ethiopia 3

4. Background
• Ethiopia- striving to decrease malnutrition, yet
challenged by climate change driven
catastrophe
• Somali region of Ethiopia is one of the
pastoralist areas frequently affected by
Emergency nutrition situation.
06/29/17 BCIN_VSF-Suisse, Ethiopia
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5. Somali Region of Ethiopia..
• Stunting (chronic malnutrition) prevalence is 27.4% (National-
38.4%)
• Wasting (acute malnutrition)- 22.7% (the highest from all
regions) National- 10%
• The highest prevalence of anaemia in children -82.6% (national
prevalence- 56%).
• The highest prevalence of severe anaemia in children- 12.8%
(national prevalence- 2.9%)
• The highest prevalence of anaemia in women - 59% (national
prevalence- 23%)
Source: EDHS 2016
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6. The BCIN- Objectives
• General Objective : to assess the role of
pastoral community platforms (PFS &
VICOBA) in increasing community awareness
on key Maternal Infant andYoung Child
Nutrition (MIYCN) practices, and through this
to effect positive behavioural changes.
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7. Specific Objectives
• To identify and analyse the limiting factors to behavioural
change in MIYCN in pastoral communities.
• To measure the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating
SBCC for MIYCN into existing pastoral community platforms.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for efficient
nutrition-related SBCC approaches for rural agricultural and
pastoralist communities.
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8. 8
Intervention Group
Arda Ola, Katama, El-dher &
Majire in Moyale and Mubarek
02 Kebeles
-PFS and VICOBA are active
Intervention Group
Arda Ola, Katama, El-dher &
Majire in Moyale and Mubarek
02 Kebeles
-PFS and VICOBA are active
Intervention Study
(7 months)
Intervention Study
(7 months)
Comparison Group
Meleb, El-gof, Kajowa and Raro in
Moyale and Jara Kebeles in Mubarek.
-No PFS and VICOBA
Comparison Group
Meleb, El-gof, Kajowa and Raro in
Moyale and Jara Kebeles in Mubarek.
-No PFS and VICOBA
Documentation and
dissemination of results
Documentation and
dissemination of results
End line StudyEnd line Study
Baseline StudyBaseline Study
No intervention other than
the health facility based
routine behavioral
interventions
No intervention other than
the health facility based
routine behavioral
interventions
Cascaded Training for PFS
and VICOBA
Cascaded Training for PFS
and VICOBA
471 471

9. Main Findings of the research- Exclusive
Breastfeeding
• # of mothers who
heard about EBF
message promoted by
the intervention was
27% higher for the
intervention
communities compared
to the comparison
communities (P<0.001).
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Reported source of information on EBF

10. Main Findings- Feeding young Children
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11. Main Findings- Food safety and personal
Hygiene
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Difference 54.8 48.3
There is 54.8% difference between the study and comparison
groups in knowledge
48.3% of the change has its origin in PFS/VICOBA
Knowledge on five critical times of hand-washing

12. Conclusion and Recommendation
• The use of these platforms should be considered for
scale-up in other pastoral areas where use of the usual
health extension package can be challenging.
• Income is one of the factors that can influence optimal
MIYCN practices.
– VICOBA, as a means to promote optimal nutrition
through improved household income, with explicit
nutrition objectives incorporated
• Minimum DD for children 6–23 months was low for both
groups even after the intervention
– Addressing it through issues beyond BCC
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13. Initiatives already taken- up byVSF-
Suisse
• Using these community platforms for
– BCC interventions for other issues
– Referral of cases with SAM and MAM to CMAM
program
– Training and equipping them with food
preservation
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ThankYou!
ThankYou!