Behavior Change for Improved Child Nutrition in Guerrero, Mexico
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Among the Mixteco indigenous community in Mexico, around 56 of every 1000 babies die each year. Yet infant mortality in Mexico is considerably less (21 to 22 deaths /1000).1 Unacceptably high death rates for children up to age 5 still plague the Mixtecos. Malnutrition plays a key role in contributing to child deaths.
In the Mexican State of Guerrero as elsewhere in Mexico, health workers are dedicated to increasing use of Nutrisano, a food supplement fortified with hydrogen reduced iron, zinc, and other micronutrients, among infants and young children of the Mixteco community living among extreme poverty .
The Pan American Health and Education Foundation partnered with the National Institute of Public Health to support nutrition supplement efforts of its Oportunidades program. Formative research was conducted to identify cultural, structural, and communication barriers to correct use of Nutrisano. Equipped with this knowledge, Oportunidades staff designed a culturally-sensitive communication for behavior change strategy to reach mothers with information on Nutrisano benefits for child health.
In May 2007, Oportunidades leaders met with officials of the Ministry of Health to share results of the formative research and the design of the communication for behavior change strategy. Together they discussed how the strategy would be implemented two Mixteco communities.
Please return periodically to our website to learn what the impact of the strategy will be on child nutrition and health.
1.CONAPO, La situación demográfica en México, 1998 y Programa Nacional de Población, 2001-2006
