SAIFRN

June 12, 2017

Purnima Menon and Anne Marie Thow

Enabling policy environments for nutrition require require evidence to support best practice and engagement with political and policy contexts, as well as leadership, resourcing, advocacy, and technical support. However, research on nutrition policy contexts is limited. The papers in this special supplement on policy contexts for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in South Asia makes a valuable contribution to understanding the policy landscape and political dynamics in the region and the global literature. 

June 12, 2017

Anne Marie Thow, Sumit Karn, Madhu Dixit Devkota, Sabrina Rasheed,SK Roy, Yasmeen Suleman, Tabish Hazir, Archana Patel, Abhay Gaidhane, Seema Puri, Sanjeeva Godakandage, Upul Senarath and Michael J. Dibley

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South Asian countries experience some of the highest levels of child undernutrition in the world, strongly linked to poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. Strong and responsive policy support is essential for effective interventions to improve IYCF. This study aimed to identify opportunities for strengthening the policy environment in the region to better support appropriate infant and young child feeding.

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June 12, 2017

Shahadat Uddin, Hana Mahmood, Upul Senarath, Quazi Zahiruddin, Sumit Karn, Sabrina Rasheed and Michael Dibley.

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Effective public policies are needed to support appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) to ensure adequate child growth and development, especially in low and middle income countries. The aim of this study was to: (i) capture stakeholder networks in relation to funding and technical support for IYCF policy across five countries in South Asia (i.e. Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan); and (ii) understand how stakeholder networks differed between countries, and identify common actors and their patterns in network engagement across the region.

June 12, 2017

Sabrina Rasheed Swapan Kumar Roy, Susmita Das, Syeda Nafisa Chowdhury, Mohammad Iqbal, Syeda Mahsina Akter, Khurshid Jahan, Shahadat Uddin and Anne Marie Thow.

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Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices are essential for nutrition of infants and young children. Bangladesh has one of the highest levels of malnutrition globally along with sub-optimal IYCF practices. A supportive policy environment is essential to ensure that effective IYCF interventions are scaled up.

The objectives of our study were to assess the support for IYCF in the national policy environment through policy analysis and stakeholder analysis and in so doing identify opportunities to strengthen the policy environment.

June 12, 2017

Seema Puri, Sylvia Fernandez, Amrita Puranik, Deepika Anand, Abhay GaidhaneEmail author, Zahiruddin Quazi Syed, Archana Patel, Shahadat Uddin and Anne Marie Thow.

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Over the last decade, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators in India have improved. However, poor IYCF practices are still apparent, associated with pervasive high rates of child under-nutrition. Interventions to improve IYCF need augmentation by appropriate policy support to consolidate gains. The aim of this study was to identify opportunities to strengthen and support IYCF policies through a policy content and stakeholder network analysis.

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June 12, 2017

Sumit Karn,  Madhu Dixit Devkota, Shahadat Uddin and Anne Marie Thow.

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Despite concerted effort from government and partners, Nepal continues to have a high burden of under nutrition among children. Identifying opportunities to strengthen policy support for infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is a key component to improve child survival, growth and development. This study aims to explore policy support for IYCF and to identify the influential stakeholders for IYCF for effective future policy development and programmatic action.

June 12, 2017

Hana Mahmood, Yasmeen Suleman, Tabish Hazir, Durre Samin Akram, Shahadat Uddin, Michael J Dibley, Saleem Abassi, Amara Shakeel, Narjis Kazmi and Anne Marie Thow.

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Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices have been identified as important for appropriate child growth and development. (Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (2012)) Children in Pakistan still experience high rates of malnutrition, indicating a likely need for stronger IYCF policy. The purpose of this study was to identify major stakeholders who shape the IYCF policy environment and analyze which policies protect, promote and support IYCF practices, either directly or indirectly.

June 12, 2017

Sanjeeva S. P. Godakandage, Upul Senarath, Hiranya S. Jayawickrama, Indika Siriwardena, S. W. A. D. A. Wickramasinghe, Prasantha Arumapperuma, Sathyajith Ihalagama, Srisothinathan Nimalan, Ramanathan Archchuna, Claudio Umesh, Shahadat Uddin and Anne Marie Thow.

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Infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) play a critical role in growth and development of children. A favourable environment supported by appropriate policies and positive contributions from all stakeholders are prerequisites for achieving optimal IYCF practices. This study aimed to assess the IYCF-related policy environment and role of stakeholders in policy making in Sri Lanka, in order to identify opportunities to strengthen the policy environment to better support appropriate IYCF and reduce childhood malnutrition.

June 12, 2017

Jody Harris, Edward A. Frongillo, Phuong H. Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim and Purnima Menon.

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There is limited literature examining shifts in policy environments for nutrition and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) over time, and on the potential contribution of targeted advocacy to improved policy environments in low- and middle-income countries. This study tracked changes in the policy environment over a four-year period in three countries, and examined the role of targeted nutrition and IYCF advocacy strategies by a global initiative.