South Asia Food and Nutrition Security Initiative

Nutritional Study & Gap Analysis – Key Findings

Manusher Jonno Foundation, BangladeshTarayana Foundation, Bhutan

Viluthu, Sri Lanka

SAMPLE STUDIED

• Rural populations• Agriculture primary occupation (up to 95% in

Bhutan, 72% in BD, and 60% in SL)• Low levels of literacy (lowest in Bhutan at 87%)• 32% female headed HHs in SL• Feeding programs exist in BD and Bhutan• Community administered questionnaires and FGD

in SL and Bhutan

FINDINGS – CHT, Bangladesh • Over 60% of the population migrates during food insecure

months; rice banks strong coping mechanism• High levels of cereal consumption • General protein deficiency among pregnant and lactating

mothers• 65% of HHs consume natural but uncultivated agricultural

food on a daily basis• Nutritional knowledge among pregnant & lactating mothers

is unsatisfactory • Child stunting (under 59m) 39%, wasting (under 23m) 53%,

underweight (under 23 m) 43%• One in five women is moderately underweight

FINDINGS – CHT (II)• High rates of anemia (62%) for children under 59 months• 40% children under 60 months received vitamin A

supplementation in the six months preceding the survey• Nutritional beliefs and practices affect pregnant and

lactating mothers adversely• 60% of mothers reported curtailing fluids in the event of

diarrhea• Colostrum feeding is 49%• Feeding according to IYCF recommendations is low at 3%

for children between 6 – 8 months and 20% for those between 18 – 23 months

FINDINGS – Bhutan • Most HHs produce food for daily consumption. Snacks,

cooking oil purchased from the market• High levels of cereal consumption and low intake of pulses

(4%), meat (3%), and dairy products (12%)• 55% of school going children participate in feeding

programs, feeding in day care is low at 3%• Overall, food insecure months are from July to September.

However, income for most is lowest from March – May• In times of food insecurity, quantity or variety of food is not

curtailed. Community support is sought during times of scarcity

• Nutritional knowledge is reasonably good, however, knowledge on micronutrients is low

FINDINGS – Bhutan (II)• Cooking practices reveal insufficient awareness on issues

relating to avian influenza and treatment of diarrhea; overcooking is common

• Vast gap between hygiene knowledge and practices – hand washing after using the toilet or before serving food is not practiced

• Only 67% of children in day cares and schools habitually wash their hands every time after using the toilet

• Toilet use is not widely prevalent – open defecation practiced among people with access to toilets, especially common among those from lower income groups

FINDINGS – Sri Lanka• 57% of HHs surveyed are severely food insecure – 80%

purchase food even though they practice agriculture/fishing.

• 50% take loans to meet their food requirements• Low dietary diversity, lack of fresh water• 35% of children under 23 months are underweight• 71% of underweight children are also growth faltering• Direct correlation between food insecurity and female

headed HHs, compounded by low levels of education among women (60% without basic minimum educational qualification even though they claim to have attended school)

FINDINGS – Sri Lanka (II)

• Direct correlation between food insecurity and HHs with disabled/differently abled members – 10% in area surveyed

• Resettlement and relocation has no correlation with food insecurity

• Food insecurity compounded in November – December (paddy sowing season, high tides limiting fishing)

• Absence of food subsidies/food assistance• Progressive increase in food prices (between 8 – 10%

for rice, vegetables and sugar) compounds food insecurity

WAY FORWARD/NEXT STEPS

• Multi-sector interventions for food and nutrition security

• Cascaded stakeholder consultations and workshops

• Prepare messages among key stakeholders followed by training of grassroots trainers/volunteers to reinforce behaviors