Strengthening knowledge management in programmes fighting malnutrition in Latin America

• Partnership Summary
• Results

The objective of this proposal is to strengthen the capacities of teams working on malnutrition in the Latin American region with a focus on using a multi-sectoral approach for nutrition. This alliance would further develop knowledge management systems on factors leading to food insecurity and malnutrition; map intervention strategies through case studies to generate success stories and best practices based on evidence; develop communities of practice; and sensitize political decision-makers on the these models and other ways of tackling nutritional problems.

A virtual space to facilitate the knowledge management and dissemination of technical information on food security and nutrition has been put in place and is operational.

The site: www.paho.org/nutricionydesarrollo was launched in May 2012.

Relevant information, news events and studies have been selected and posted on the site.

Virtual forums are being held on specific themes, such as legislation for a healthy nutrition for children; advertisement legislation, etc. The forums have had participation from over 10 countries in the region from government, civil society, academia and international cooperation among others.

• Based on the results from Google Analytics system, since October 2012 and as of July 2013, the site received 33,515 hits, and the publications have received up to 64.051 visitors, which shows a high interest in the products offered.
• Created a network of practitioners and community of practice through the platform APNUDE. Stakeholders receive information, discuss, share and redistribute their own news and materials. Newsletters are being periodically sent to over 4,700 recipients.

Technical assistance to Governments:

• Provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion in Peru to design a child development’s programme based on house to house visits, through the provision of evidence based information on the effect of socio-economic status and family responsibilities for the care and stimulation, on nutritional status and infant development.
• Support for the dissemination of the epidemiological situation and determinants of childhood obesity in Peru. Several discussion events have been organized on this topic:
  1. May 9, 2012, the Ministry of Health of Peru in Lima organized the International Conference "Nutrition and Obesity: New evidence emerging ideas and policies".
  2. June 22, 2012, the project participated in the organization of "Promotion Technical Forum Healthy Eating" . As a result participating institutions developed a joint statement in support of Bill Healthy Eating for Children and Adolescents.
  3. June 27, 2012 the International Forum, "Healthy eating: Studies and international trends," organized by the Congress of the Republic of Peru, was held in Lima.
  4. Supported the discussion process and organization of the 1st National Workshop Discussion on Rice Fortification in Peru. » www.paho.org/nutricionydesarrollo/?p=1494
     » www.paho.org/nutricionydesarrollo/?p=1611
  5. 25-26 November 2012, Mexico City, participation in a special meeting on "Legislation, regulations and policies in curbing obesity and promote healthy eating among children in Latin America" in order to generate political awareness on one of the main determinants of the obesity epidemic in the region.

Contribution to the design and implementation of evaluation studies of food security and nutrition interventions.

• Several products have been developed:
  1. Multi-country study on the implementation of public policies to address nutrition issues in Latin America.
  2. Formulation of an index of child development, establishing a relationship between children development and social determinants.
  3. Support the continuation of the study "Effectiveness of a precooked corn cereal fortified with ferrous gluconate stabilized with glycine or ferrous bisglycinate on iron status of children aged 24-59 months."
  4. Funded STATA research and training in epidemiology and/or public health Workshop, 17^th and 22^nd June 2013 in Panama, organized in collaboration with the Department of Nutritional Health of Panama Ministry of Health.
  5. Impact Assessment of the MDG-F Joint Programme of Food Security and Nutrition in Peru.
  6. International Technical Meeting on Food Consumption Survey, 29 - 31, 2013, Lima, Peru. International meeting where experts from Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Peru presented, discussed and reached a consensus on the main procedures and critical points of survey methodologies food consumption. The results of this meeting will be used in the development of the technical guidelines on the methodology that the recently created Technical Committee on Food Consumption of CENAN/INS/MINSA--CTCA has been tasked to developed.
  7. Systematized Lessons Learned on Food Security and Nutrition from the MDG-F multisectorial joint programmes. Between March and July 2013 a series of virtual and face to face meetings were organized to systematize the most significant experiences of the implementation of programmes within the Food Security and Nutrition thematic window at the MDG-F in Latin-America. A face to face workshop was co-organized with UNICEF in its role as convenor of the MDG-F Knowledge Management Strategy for food security and nutrition, and gathered representatives of 8 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima in June 2013. As a result a publication was developed.

List of publications

• Lecciones aprendidas en programas articulados de salud, alimentación y nutrición: informe de sistematización de experiencias exitosas en los programas conjuntos de infancia, seguridad alimentaria y nutrición de américa latina y caribe.
• Metodología de análisis para estudios de Desarrollo Infantil
• Estudio multi-país sobre implementación de políticas públicas para reducir la desnutrición crónica en las Américas
• Bases jurídicas para la elaboración de políticas públicas de promoción de la alimentación saludable
• Fundamentos desde la salud pública para la elaboración de políticas públicas de promoción de la alimentación saludable
• Análisis de la publicidad de los grupos de alimentos y presentación de los resultados y conclusiones del estudio.
• Memoria: Reunión técnica internacional de experiencias en estudios de consumo de alimentos
• Estudio de evaluación de impacto del programa conjunto infancia seguridad alimentaria y nutrición de Perú
• Análisis de los factores relacionados al desarrollo motor y del lenguaje: evaluación bajo los inventarios de hitos motores y de lenguaje en el estudio de línea de base en niños del programa conjunto-isan Perú
• Efectividad de un cereal de maíz precocido fortificado con gluconato ferroso estabilizado con glicina o bisglicinato ferroso sobre el estatus de hierro de niños de 24 a 59 meses
• Informe sobre la Publicidad de Alimentos No Saludables y Bebidas Azucaradas, los Sucedáneos de la Leche Materna y Alimentos Procesados
• Informe sobre el sustento epidemiológico y jurídico de la legislación sobre promoción de alimentación saludable¡
• Revisión y Actualización de las Premisas Conceptuales y Principios Estratégicos 2013 de la Alianza Panamericana de la Salud.