Enhancing Milk Consumption by Vulnerable Household Members in Rural Nepal

Diet quality is generally poor in rural Nepal, especially among vulnerable household members. Consumption of milk (and other animal source foods \[ASF\]) could contribute to improvements in diet quality. However, multiple cultural, structural and economic barriers constrain the inclusion of ASF in the diet in these households, even though most raise dairy animals. This study will 1. characterize these barriers in detail 2. conduct a randomized controlled trial to test a multi-dimensional behavior change intervention designed to increase ASF/milk consumption by young children 6-60 months, adolescent girls 10-15 years, and women of child-bearing age (WCBA). Matched clusters of villages in Kapilbastu and Nawalparasi districts (Nepal) will be randomized to Intervention or Control status. Household surveys will be conducted at baseline and 12 months later to collect demographic, diet, feeding practices, nutrition knowledge, etc. Fathers and adolescent girls will respond to mini-surveys. Growth parameters of children, adolescent girls, and WCBA will be assessed. The intervention consists of 4 components: 1) didactic training (mothers, fathers, adolescent girls), 2) participatory learning activities (mothers, fathers, adolescent girls), 3) model kitchens (mothers, adolescent girls), and 4) Nutrition Club (adolescent girls). The primary outcome will be the impact of the intervention on diet, household feeding practices, and nutrition knowledge.