Description
Even though stunting in Bangladesh has dropped considerably over the past two decades, child undernutrition remains an important challenge. Efforts to further reduce child undernutrition must focus on improving maternal nutrition (during pregnancy) and the nutrition of the child. In response to the 2015 National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) calling for the development of a national Child Benefit Program to improve the nutrition and health of women during pregnancy and their children up to age 4, the Government of Bangladesh developed the Maternal and Child Benefit Program (MCBP). MCBP aims to increase the number of safe deliveries; improve breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices; prevent child stunting and wasting; and improve cognitive and psychosocial development of young children.
Together with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP), IFPRI is studying how to best improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and young infants in Bangladesh under the MCBP program. This study, referred to as “Joint Interventions to Improve Birth Outcomes and Nutrition” (Jibon), is ongoing. The general objective of the study is to generate evidence on the role social protection can play in improving maternal nutrition and birth outcomes in Bangladesh. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial, the study will assess the impact of different treatment modalities on several outcomes, including dietary intake during pregnancy and weekly gestational weight gain.
For more information, please contact the Principal Investigators Jef Leroy and Shalini Roy.
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Blog – Stepping into the field: Observing Bangladesh’s national Mother and Child Benefit Program to inform IFPRI research
