The Multiple Dimensions of Participation: Key Determinants of Nutrition Intervention Outcomes
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Current Developments in Nutrition
Abstract
Nutrition research benefits from broad and intensive participation by stakeholders. The articles in this series demonstrate that understanding participation is complex because it incorporates the dimensions of stakeholders, activity, time, and intensity. Early involvement in
research can help prioritize the problems to be addressed, refine the specific research question, and determine acceptable community-based
approaches to be used in an intervention. The included studies examined the construct of participation and the diverse means by which it
can be measured. They demonstrated how knowledge gained from early participation influenced the direction of interventions and
increased relevancy for the community. The researchers assessed participation intensity during the intervention phase to help explain
project outcomes and provide estimates of the magnitude of the effect that could be achieved if high-level participation of stakeholders was
universal. In addition, participation in the analysis process was a key component of some of the articles in this series, demonstrating the
richness of understanding that can be obtained through collaborative analyses. The included papers provide insight into how to define and
measure participation, how to explore approaches to encourage participation of direct and indirect beneficiaries, and how participation at
different time points and by different stakeholders can validate and support interventions and enhance effectiveness. As such, the series
serves as a valuable reference to researchers, program and policy designers, implementers, and evaluators to increase the benefits of
community-based interventions for nutrition outcomes.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
participation,, community-based intervention, stakeholder