81373 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database Improving Nutrition through Community Growth Promotion: Longitudinal Study of the Nutrition and Early Child Development Program in Uganda Author(s) Harold Alderman Contact h.alderman@cgiar.org Country Uganda Organizing Theme Health, Economic Opportunities and Access to Assets Status Completed Intervention Category Early Childhood Development, Deworming Sector Health, Nutrition & Population Community based growth promotion is a widely advocated but less studied means to improve child nutrition in low income countries. Using a longitudinal comparison of treatment and control communities, this paper indicated a significant impact of one such Abstract program, in Uganda, on the nutritional status of children less than one year of age in the treatment group. There was a concomitant improvement in breast feeding and weaning practices in these communities. Gender Connection Gender Informed Analysis Gender Outcomes Gender disaggregated nutrition, income IE Design Difference in Difference The program has three board aims: help communities organize services of children under 6 through monitoring and promotion and Early Childcare Education Facilities; providing sensitization and skills training on early childhood development; and provide community Intervention grants and incentives. Activities were divided into community, parish and national and district levels. Communities in the program had access to a $1,500 grant. Additionally, one treatment group was administered albendazole, a de-worming drug. The project started in 1998, many communities did not begin to receive the program until Intervention Period late 2001. 50 parishes were randomly selected to be part of the sample. Two villages from each parish were chosen. A census was taken of all households in each village and a random Sample population draw of households with at least one young child was selected. The questionnaire was administered to 2250 households, 750 in each stratum. There were three treatment groups, one received all Early Childhood Development Comparison conditions Services and de-worming drugs, another received just ECD services, and the final was a control group which received no services. Unit of analysis Household level Evaluation Period January 2000 - 2003 Last updated: 14 August 2013 1 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database The program had a significant positive, but modest, impact on per capita income. The program had no significant impact on sanitation. On average, girls have better nutrition Results than boys. The project had a greater effect on younger children. Treatment communities also had a significant increase in self-reported diet diversification. The number of times that growth promoting food was consumed was 20% higher in treated communities. Primary study limitations The regression used in this study explains a small portion of the overall variance. Funding Source Alderman, H. (2007). Improving nutrition through community growth promotion: Reference(s) longitudinal study of the nutrition and early child development program in Uganda. World Development, 35(8), 1376-1389. Link to Studies http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X07000708 Microdata Last updated: 14 August 2013 2