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Session: Maternal and Infant Nutrition (Poster Theater Flash Session 9)

(PTFS09-04-24) Implementing a Multilevel, Multicomponent Intervention to Engage Fathers in Complementary Feeding in Northern Nigeria: Barriers, Facilitators, and Suggestions for Change

Sunday, June 30, 2024
2:12 PM – 2:16 PM CT
Location:  Hall F1 (The Hub) - Poster Theater

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Stephanie L. Martin, PhD (she/her/hers)

    Assistant Professor
    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • DA

    Diana Allotey, MPH

    Doctoral student
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

  • AI

    Abiodun Ipadeola, MSc

    Technical Director/Team Lead
    Datametrics Associates, Ltd.
    Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

  • SK

    Sarah Kwasu, BA

    FHI360
    Kaduna, Kaduna, Nigeria

  • OA

    Olatoun Adeola, MBBS

    Equitable Health Access Initiative
    Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

  • SB

    Sujata Bose, MS

    Director – Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation
    FHI360
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

  • VF

    Valerie L. Flax, PhD, MPH

    RTI International
    Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States

Objectives: Increasingly nutrition programs are engaging men to support infant and young child nutrition. There is growing evidence that engaging men is associated with improved care and feeding practices, but evidence on the implementation of these programs is limited. Our objective was to examine the implementation of social and behavior change activities to engage fathers in complementary feeding in Kaduna State, Nigeria using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods: The intervention included home visits by community health extension workers (CHEWs), training community and religious leaders, text messages and voice prompts, and radio and television spots. We conducted 24 in-depth interviews with CHEWs and community and religious leaders, and 8 focus group discussions each with mothers and fathers of children 6-23 months in 6 wards in Kaduna State. We analyzed transcripts thematically using Atlas.ti and organized results by relevant CFIR constructs.

Results: Community and religious leaders promoted fathers’ involvement in complementary feeding during community meetings and sermons, which parents valued. CHEWs conducted home visits, but fathers rarely participated because of their work schedules. Fathers appreciated the complementary feeding text messages and voice prompts, with some forwarding text messages to others. Fathers reported that hearing recommendations from multiple sources encouraged them to try recommended practices. CHEWs and community and religious leaders liked the training and participating in monthly meetings where they could share experiences and problem solve. Participants recommended scheduling home visits around men’s schedules, providing frequent opportunities for CHEWs and community and religious leaders to meet, ensuring adequate supplies of counseling materials, and engaging grandmothers and other family members to improve program delivery and impact. Using the CFIR helped identify what worked well and areas for improvement.

Conclusions: Engaging men in complementary feeding has the potential to improve infant feeding practices. This implementation research identified important recommendations for enhancing implementation and scaling up male engagement activities.

Funding Sources: This research was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.