Home fortification with micronutrient powders to address micronutrient deficiencies among children 6 to 23 months in Cameroon (supported by UNICEF Cameroon, the Ministry of Health, and the University of British Columbia)
 

Background

Although Cameroon has made several advances in recent years in the improvement of health care and food security, chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in children under age 5 remain a public health concern. In Cameroon, 122 in 1000 children die without reaching their fifth birthday, with malnutrition being the underlying factor in a third of these deaths (DHS 2011). The prevalence of stunting in children under five is 33%, while 15% are underweight and 6% suffer from acute malnutrition (DHS 2011). Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also highly prevalent among children in Cameroon. It is estimated that 60% of children under 5 are affected by iron deficiency anaemia, and 40% of children from 12 to 59 months are vitamin A deficient. Anemic children have a lowered capacity for attention, understanding and logical reasoning than children who are not anemic. This greatly affects their ability to learn and their school performance which ultimately impacts adult productivity.

Our work

The Government of Cameroon aimed to implement a strategy to specifically target iron deficiency anaemia in children aged 6 to 23 months. Micronutrient fortification of industrially manufactured staple foods is regarded as the most cost-effective approach to improving the population’s vitamin and mineral status, but this strategy is not considered adequate for the high needs of young children. Access to fortified complementary food for young children in Cameroon is out of reach for most families. Therefore, this project was developed in collaboration with the government and key stakeholders in order to deliver micronutrients to vulnerable children during the key first 1,000 days of life when their cognitive and physical development may be permanently impacted by undernutrition. In Cameroon, the Nourish team conducted formative research that included assessing the feasibility and acceptability of MNP for home fortification in rural communities in Cameroon, developing and piloting a culturally appropriate protocol for micronutrient powders to be integrated with current infant and young child feeding programs, and developing a communication strategy for caregivers, health professionals, and decision-makers.