Graduate Part-Time Instructor Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas, United States
Disclosure(s):
Jacob K. Korir, PhD Candidate: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the extent of political commitment and leadership for nutrition and to compare the current status with that of a decade ago. Additionally, it sought to evaluate variables contributing to the current political commitment and leadership situation.
Methods: Utilizing a structured, closed-ended questionnaire adapted from a validated nutrition governance index, data were collected from 94 government and non-governmental staff working as program managers and officers in nine eligible line ministries/departments implementing nutrition programs at the national level. Data was analyzed using SPSS software 28.0 software. Five variables were used to construct the political commitment and leadership score: (i) prioritization of nutrition, (ii) leadership in outlining strategies for scaling up nutrition, (iii) commitment by leadership to implement improvements, (iv) level of support provided to staff, and (v) presence of nutrition champions.
Results: Preliminary findings revealed an improvement in political commitment and leadership for nutrition from 46.7% in 2012 to 66.4% in 2023. Substantial improvements were observed in the prioritization of nutrition (42.2% to 72.3%), clear leadership in strategizing for nutrition scale-up (22.2% to 52.7%), and support provided to staff (37.2% to 59.4%). One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrated a significant variance in the contribution of different variables to political commitment and leadership (F(4,94) = 99.08, p < . 03, η2 = .71). Post hoc analysis using the Bonferroni test indicated that leadership in outlining strategies for scaling up nutrition and commitment by leadership to make institutional and operational improvements had significantly higher mean contribution to political commitment and leadership. There was no significant difference in the mean contribution of the other variables.
Conclusions: Political leadership and commitment to nutrition has improved over the past 10 years. Presently, leadership in outlining strategies to scale up nutrition and commitment by the leadership to make institutional and operational improvements are significant contributors to the current political leadership and commitment. Further studies are required to assess political leadership and commitment dynamics within individual ministries.
