From food aid programs to household food security: Insights from two approaches to targeting food assisted maternal and child health programs in rural Haiti

Abstract

We compared the impact on household food insecurity (HHFI) of targeting a food assistance and behavior change communication (BCC) intervention for up to 18 mo to all households with children 6-24 mo (preventive model) vs. up to 9 mo to those with a malnourished under-5 child (recuperative model) in rural Haiti. The models were randomly assigned within 10 pairs of matched communities. HHFI was assessed using an experience-based food insecurity scale (E-FI) at baseline & endline surveys (3 y apart; N∼1500); and mo of food insufficiency (MFI) in the past year at endline only. There were no differences between program models in baseline HHFI, which was severe. Endline HHFI remained high in both groups, but E-FI and M-FI scores were lower in the preventive group (p<0.05). Current participants in both programs had lower HHFI than non-participants (p<0.01). Current participation rates were double in preventive areas (37% vs. 14%, p<0.05) due to targeting (age vs. malnutrition), duration of intervention (18 vs. 9 too) and greater overall participation in preventive communities. Results suggest that targeting food aid using a preventive approach leads to greater reductions in HHFI than a recuperative approach, mainly via differences in participation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]