Klemm, Rolf

Despite substantial reductions in recent years in Nepal, stunting prevalence in children younger than 5 years remains high and represents a leading public health concern. To identify factors contributing to the stunting burden, we report multilevel risk factors associated with stunting in 4,853 children aged 6–59 months in a nationally and agroecologically representative random sample from the first year of the Policy and Science for Health, Agriculture, and Nutrition Community Studies, a community‐based observational, mixed‐panel study.

This presentation was delivered by Sudeep Shrestha in November?2015 at the International Conference on Maternal and Child Nutrition in Sri Lanka.

Food insecurity is a global concern, yet its association with child growth is not fully understood. This study in rural Bangladesh explored associations between household food insecurity, using standardized questions, and infant growth. We asked a published 10-item, 6-mo household food insecurity questionnaire at 6 and 12 mo postpartum to 6,333 mothers participating in an antenatal micronutrient supplementation trial.

Objectives: Describe the prevalence of anemia in Nepali non-pregnant women of reproductive age by agroecological zone and potential risk factors.

Baseline findings of this nationally representative study reveal variations in nutritional status, household food security, agricultural production and practices, and sanitation between the agro ecological zones of Nepal. Undernutrition in under-five children and women was found to be consistently worse in the terai (with the exception of under-five stunting rates being approximately 36%). Household food insecurity was 40% across the PoSHAN sample during the May - July 2013 season; with terai households found to be least food insecure.

John Hopkins' PoSHAN review at the 2nd Annual Scientific Symposium, August 2013.

The intent of the symposium was to share, understand and assimilate country- relevant evidence about factors that contribute to causal pathways that lead from agriculture to nutrition, in national, regional and local contexts. A national call for abstracts was made to researchers conducting work across these diverse but connected fields to present their work. The event was attended by approximately 140 participants from the scientific, research, program, policy maker and development partner communities.

At the 19th International Congress on Nutrition in Bangkok (in 2009), the United Nations? Standing Committee on Nutrition concluded that ?there is an urgent need to provide evidence- based information on food-based strategies and systems in order to make a case for their promotion. A series of scientific articles on food security interventions for nutrition should therefore be published to complement the public health interventions promoted by the Lancet Series [of 2008].

The Nutrition Innovation Lab?s 2nd annual scientific symposium held in Kathmandu, Nepal on August 13-14, 2013 under the theme ?Science and Policy for Health, Agriculture and Economic Growth? facilitated the sharing of new research findings along the agriculture to nutrition pathway. Featuring 15 oral and 11 poster presentations, the two day meeting was attended by approximately 250 participants who represented researchers, field practitioners, government policymakers, donors (including the USAID mission) and 40 students from various Nepali institutions of higher education.

Science and Policy for Health, Agriculture, Nutrition & Economic Growth