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Effects of Nutrition Counselling and Unconditional Cash Transfer on Child Growth and Family Food Security in Internally Displaced Person Camps in Somalia—A Quasi-Experimental Study

Author

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  • Mohamed Kalid Ali

    (School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden
    Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Somalia Country Office, Nairobi P.O. Box 30470-00100, Kenya)

  • Renée Flacking

    (School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden)

  • Munshi Sulaiman

    (BRAC International, Clock Tower, Kampala P.O. Box 31817, Uganda)

  • Fatumo Osman

    (School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden)

Abstract

The effects of nutrition counselling (NC) and unconditional cash transfer (UCT) in improving growth in children under five and household food security are poorly understood in humanitarian settings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of NC and NC combined with unconditional cash transfer (NC + UCT) on children’s growth and food security in Somalia. The study was performed with a quasi-experimental design in two districts in the Banadir region of Somalia. Caregivers ( n = 255) with mildly to moderately malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months old ( n = 184) were randomized to the NC, NC + UCT and control groups. The interventions consisted of weekly NC for three months alone or in combination with UCT. The outcome variables were wasting, underweight, stunting, and food security. Difference-indifferences analysis was used to estimate the effect of the interventions. Our study did not find any significant impacts of NC or NC + UCT on child wasting, underweight, stunting, food security or household expenses. In conclusion, NC, alone or in combination with UCT, did not impact children’s growth or household food security. Thus, a culturally tailored NC programme over a longer period, supplemented with cash transfer, could be beneficial to consider when designing interventions to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Kalid Ali & Renée Flacking & Munshi Sulaiman & Fatumo Osman, 2022. "Effects of Nutrition Counselling and Unconditional Cash Transfer on Child Growth and Family Food Security in Internally Displaced Person Camps in Somalia—A Quasi-Experimental Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13441-:d:945394
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leight, Jessica & Hirvonen, Kalle & Zafar, Sarim, 2024. "The effectiveness of cash and cash plus interventions on livelihoods outcomes: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis," OSF Preprints dnc2r, Center for Open Science.

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