Significance:

Results

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations: Food Aid Quality Review = FAQR; Food Distribution Point = FDP; Corn Soy Blend Plus = CSB+; Super Cereal Plus = SC+; Ready to Use Supplementary Food = RUSF; Corn Soy Whey Blend (CSWB)

Who are we really feeding with specialized food aid products?Ilana Cliffer1, Breanne Langlois1, Devika Suri1, Shelley Walton1, Laetitia Nikiema2, Beatrice Rogers1

1Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA2Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background

Methods• Cost effectiveness trial of the Food Aid

Quality Review comparing four foods in the prevention of stunting and wasting: Three corn-soy blends (CSB+, CSWB, SC+), and one lipid-based supplement (RUSF)

• Total sample size: 6,000. Information on feeding and sharing practices gathered through in-depth surveys and in-home observations among a sub-sample of participating households (n=1,780, n=256 respectively).

• Sharing defined as consumption of the ration by anyone other than the beneficiary child.

This poster was made possible through support provided by the Office of Food For Peace, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Contract No. AID-OAA-C-16-00020. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

ObjectiveUnderstand sharing practices among beneficiaries of a blanket supplementary feeding program receiving food for prevention of malnutrition.

Figure 4. Self reported reasons for sharing the ration across all four study groups (n=974)

Figure 1. Besides the beneficiary child, who consumes the ration? (n=1598)

Figure 3. Self reported vs observed sharing practices overall and by study branch

Figure 2. Self reports of giving the ration away, overall and by study branch

Sharing practices appear to be widespread among beneficiaries in a blanket supplementary feeding program in Burkina Faso, despite efforts to target rations to specific beneficiaries for prevention of undernutrition. It is likely that such practices are pervasive in similar programs elsewhere. This highlights the importance of considering diversion in all policies and programming surrounding in-kind food aid.

Photo: Beneficiary child (standing) eats CSB+ ration along with other household children

Photo: Children eat couscous prepared with ration flour

From June 2014-December 2016, data on sharing practices were collected during a study comparing the cost-effectiveness of four specialized food aid products used for prevention of stunting and wasting in children 6-23 months in Sanmatenga, Burkina Faso.

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%

Overall (N=1602)

CSB+ (N=403)

CSB14 (N=397)

SC+ (N=405)

RUSF (N=397)

Oil Food

Others need or want it

55%

Mother needs it for

breastfeeding16%

Morally obliged to share

15%

Other reason

7%

I share the leftovers

3%

Good for health/treats illness

4%61% 62%66% 68%

48%48%

37%

67%

42%

54%

Overall (N=1601)

CSB+ (n=403)

CSWB (n=397)

SC+ (n=404)

RUSF (n=397)

Self Reported Sharing Observed Sharing

49%

20% 20%

7% 6%

Children under 5

Children over 5

Mother Other Adults

Others