Mozambique

Our Work

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition is conducting a population-based assessment study of the prevalence of aflatoxin levels in children under five years of age within 10 selected districts of Nampula province. The study examines the association of aflatoxin levels in blood to the linear growth of these children within the context of other risk factors, such as poor diets , food insecurity, poverty, and poor water, hygiene and sanitation practices, among others. Using multivariate analysis methods and models, the Lab will examine the extent of the association of aflatoxins in the blood and linear growth, controlling for confounders/other risk factors (poor diets, food security, maternal height, maternal education, socio-economic status, water, hygiene and sanitation practices being some examples). 

Feed the Future’s two primary objectives are (1) to increase the productivity and competitiveness of Mozambique’s agricultural sector and (2) to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and children under five years, with a particular emphasis on pregnant women and children less than two years (known as the 1,000 days’ population) in 26 districts across four provinces in Mozambique.  Both agriculture and nutrition interventions are being implemented in 10 Feed the Future-designated priority districts in Nampula province.

The Feed the Future Initiative expects to have national-level impact through scaling up of innovative private sector-led models to increase productivity among competitive smallholder farmers, emerging farmers and agro enterprises. It anticipates increasing technology transfer and smallholder access to improved agricultural inputs, technical assistance, and finance and training.  Within the context of nutrition, it aims to develop (where relevant) and/or implement existing best practices for community nutrition interventions that integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) approaches.  Furthermore, at the policy level, Feed the Future aims to strengthen policy-making capacity, advocate for enabling policies for agricultural productivity, and for development and dissemination of higher-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties.  

Findings

Dissemination events were held in Maputo and Nampula, Mozambique in February and March of 2020. These events included presentations and discussions on study results, potential mitigation efforts, and future directions for policy and research activities. A summary of the aflatoxin study as well as infographics on health and nutrition topics were shared at the dissemination events in both English and Portuguese. These resources can be found below:

  • Assessing the Relationship of Aflatoxin Exposure and Stunting in Children 6-59 Months of Age in 10 Districts of Nampula Province, Mozambique [study summary] (English(Português)
  • Breastfeeding Practices of Children 6-23 Months [infographic] (English(Português)
  • Diet Diversity and Minimum Adequate Diet of Breastfed Children 6-23 Months [infographic] (English) (Português)
  • Anthropometry of Children 6-59 Months [infographic] (English(Português)
  • Health of Children 6-59 Months [infographic] (English(Português)
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [infographic] (English(Português)
  • Food Security and Dietary Diversity [infographic] (English(Português)
Child Health Infographic
From: Health of Children 6-59 Months [infographic]