Assessment of a community nutrition programme in five community health centers in Mali

Abstract

Introduction: In Mali, malnutrition is a realpublic health problem. Communitynutritionstrategyaims tofill the voidin terms ofpreventive measuresbetweenhealth centersand communities.The objective of thestudy was to assessthe results of theCommunity Nutrition Program(CNP) inKoulikoro, Segouand the District ofBamako, Mali. Methods: We lead a cross-sectional study in January 2009,infivecommunity health centerof the program. Theinterviews were carried outwithfivepresidentsof community health association,fiveheadsof community health center (CHC), six nutritionfocal points, three medicalheadof health districts, 61 communities health workers (CHWs), 225 pregnant womenand 225mothers of childrenless than 5 years. Results:The assessment showedthatthe program has trained166CHWsto screen foracute malnutrition, 15 health agentsinthe carein acutemalnutrition,has providedbicycle to all CHWs, provided allCHCinkitnutritiondemonstrationandmotorbikes, all thecommunity health associationsreceiveda millfor the purpose ofsupportingnutrition activities. Among pregnantwomen surveyed, 80.9%sleptunder a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide, 64.9% took IronFolic Acid(IFA), 59.1%took sulfadoxinepyrimethamine. Among mothersofchildren under5 yearssurveyed, 86% said the childtookthevitamin A73.8% took the IFAafter delivery and71.6% ofchildren wereexclusivelybreastfedup to 6months. Conclusion: The CNP has improved indicators. His accompaniment by the Community will be an asset for sustainability.