The Effectiveness of Large-scale Programmes and Interventions in Reducing Child Stunting Prevalence: A Systematic Review of the Literature Public
Dan, Mihaela (2015)
Abstract
Although child stunting has decreased in recent decades (from 195 million to 165 million in 2011), the current trend suggests that the child stunting rate is still too high, thus, it remains an alarming burden in many regions of the world, especially developing countries that have limited access to proper health services, and are income and food insecure. Numerous large-scale programmes and interventions that vary in design scheme and focus have been implemented around the world. Unfortunately, there is still a wide gap in the current literature on the effectiveness of these programmes and interventions on child stunting prevalence of these regions. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to synthesize research on the large-scale programmes and interventions. This review focused on the effectiveness of these programmes and interventions on reducing child stunting prevalence. To carry out this systematic review, the Child Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) guidelines were utilized. The search engines used were PubMed, Popline, Econ-Lit, WorldBank Library, Cochrane Library, IFPRI, and the International Initiative for impact Evaluation Food Policy Research. A systematic review of peer-reviewed scientific articles and manual literature search were conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of large-scale programmes and interventions on child growth and stunting outcomes. Results found 62 studies that met inclusion criteria. The overall quality of evidence was very low, except for social safety net programmes that distribute cash/food transfers to programme beneficiaries which were graded as high quality of evidence. Most of the programmes and interventions evaluated were located in Central and South America and in Southeast Asia. Evidence was not able to decipher what individual components of programmes resulted in their success in improving child growth and reducing stunting prevalence. This literature review demonstrates that there is a lack of high quality evidence that evaluates large-scale programmes and interventions and their effectiveness on child growth outcomes. Magnitude of the effects of these programmes and interventions could not be estimated due to the lack of high quality data. In the future, more systematic monitoring and evaluation studies need to be conducted and a greater dissemination of results is needed.
Table of Contents
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS. VI
ABBREVIATIONS. VIII
INTRODUCTION. 1
BACKGROUND. 4
CAUSES OF CHILD STUNTING. 5
CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD STUNTING. 12
CURRENT INITIATIVES TO DECREASE CHILD STUNTING. 15
METHODS. 17
ARTICLE SELECTION CRITERIA. 17
STUDY QUALITY ASSESSMENT. 20
RESULTS. 21
CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMMES. 22
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMMES. 28
SANITATION PROGRAMMES. 30
SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAMMES. 33
MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH/COMMUNITY NUTRITION PROGRAMMES. 36
DAYCARE PROGRAMMES. 44
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE. 47
QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THE BODY OF EVIDENCE. 49
DISCUSSION. 53
LIMITATIONS. 58
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 59
FIGURES AND TABLES. 61
REFERENCES. 112
Annex. 120
Search Strategy. 120
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