MAM'Out Project - Evaluation of Multiannual and Seasonal Cash Transfers to Prevent Acute Malnutrition

At international level, the WHO formulated guidelines for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (or wasting) (WHO 1999, and more recently ACF 2011), and guidelines for moderate acute malnutrition (or wasting) are in the process of formulation. In contrast, surprisingly little is known on preventive schemes for acute malnutrition. In Haiti, Ruel et al (2008) found that targeting nutrition interventions to prevent children from becoming malnourished might be more effective than curative treatment to reduce child wasting. In addition, recent preventive trials in humanitarian settings focused on the use of food-based strategies, especially ready-to-use food (Isanaka, 2009; Hendricks, 2010; Parikh, 2010; Imbad, 2011; Huybregts, 2012). However, it is well known that the causes of under-nutrition are numerous and also relate to inadequate health and care practices, lack of food diversification, food insecurity… Therefore, the MAM'Out research project aims at assessing a context-adapted preventive approach, which is likely to influence several underlying causes of under-nutrition and not based primarily on food supplementation. The objective is to provide an evidence base for this alternative approach, in order that proven intervention be taken into account for scale-up at policy-making levels.

Inclusion criteria

• Poor or very poor household (HEA criteria)
• Having at least one children under 1 year old at the time of inclusion

Exclusion criteria

• Medium or rich economic status (HEA criteria)
• no child under one year old at the time of inclusion
• not living in one of the 32 selected villages in the Tapoa province