Identifying the Influence of Male Household Heads on The Expected Outcomes of ENAM Project Community-Based Interventions

Abstract

It is well documented that microcredit given to women results in increased control of household resources by women, and improves quantity and quality of food available to children in the household. The Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Food Management (ENAM) project implemented a microcredit plus education intervention aimed at increasing Ghanaian women's access to and utilization of ASF in the diets of2-5 year old children. The current study was designed to assess the role played by the ENAM caregivers' Male Household Heads (MHH) in the caregivers' Income Generating Activities (lGA) and its influence on the Animal Source Food (ASF) intake and nutritional status of their 2-5 year old children. Ninety one MHH in four rural communities in two different ecological zones of Ghana were purposively selected for the study. A structured questionnaire with both open and close ended questions were used to collect information on MHH socio-demographic status, role played in caregivers' IGA and their perceptions on the importance~ of ASF for young children. Energy and nutrient intakes of children under five years in households surveyed were assessed using weighed food record. Nutritional status of the children was assessed using weight and height measurements. Chi-squared statistics was used to test bivariate associations between demographic characteristics of MHH and outcome variables (such as roles played by MHH). Student t-test was used to compare differences in continuous outcome variables of MHH (children ASF intake) who played strong role and weak role. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of MHH demographic characteristics on children's ASF intake. The results revealed significant differences between ASF diversity and quantity of children whose MHH played strong roles and weak roles in caregivers' IGA. Children from households where the MHH played strong roles had higher

ASF diversity (2.6 ± 1.0 vs 1.5 ± 0.6; p= 0.031) as well as ASF intake (67.0g ± 25.0g vs 20.0g ± 23.9g; p= 0.040). MHH education was also a significant factor in children's ASF diversity and quantity. Children of MHH with education above primary level consumed significantly higher quantity and diversity of ASF. From the findings it was concluded that when a MHH has education above primary and plays a strong role in caregivers’ IGA a child is likely to consume more ASF both in quantity and diversity, in a household. It is recommended that intervention programmes that aim to empower women as a way of helping families to improve on their children's nutritional status should involve MHH who are mainly husbands of the caregivers to ensure better outcome.