Changing nutrition behavior in bangladesh: successful adaptation of new theories and anthropological methods

Authors: Parvanta, Claudia F.1; Thomas, Katherine K.2; Zaman, Khandaker S.

Source: Ecology of Food and Nutrition, Volume 46, Numbers 3-4, May 2007 , pp. 221-244(24)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Behavior change theories and a positive deviance approach were used to improve child nutrition through home gardening groups in Bangladesh. Groups were assigned randomly to: (T1) individual, stage-based, role-model stories delivered by a literate agent; (T2) role-model stories told by illiterate garden group leaders at meetings; or (T3) no intervention. Four months later, 31% of the T1 mothers demonstrated feeding correct portions of vegetables to young children. Only 15% of T2 and 17% of T3 mothers could do this. Group Leaders did create awareness and spread information; a personal contact was helpful for changing attitudes and portion size.
Keywords: health communication; positive deviance; vitamin A; rural development

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/03670240701407616

Affiliations: 1: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 2: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA