Page 1 - Public Eye Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 3

September 2023 Volume 7 Issue No. 3

ticularly among marginalised, vulnerable or socially back‐
Editorial ward and challenged to reach. As a strategy the Social and
Behaviour Change in Communication (SBCC) may aid in
shifting current behaviours, such as inspiring them to nur‐
ture, procure or choose healthier foods or encourage fami‐
Dr. Tara M.S., lies to fortify their own food at home by blending nutrient
Freelance Consultant, dense local foods rich in micronutrient at household level,
Former Regional Director of National Institute of averting discriminatory feeding practices, early initiation of
Public Cooperation and Child Development- NIPCCD breast feeding, devising quality complimentary food etc.

Essentially SBCC is an integrated approach that improves
Reimagining the advocacy strategy for improved Nutrition nutrition outcomes through processes that foster communi‐
ty discourse and action, strengthen social contexts, systems
Nutrition, a vital driver of Sustainable Development Goals that reinforce good nutrition, and sustain healthful individ‐
(SDG), is key to achieve both nutrition specific and nutrition ual and group behaviours. The following three harmonising
sensitive goals and targets. Undernutrition rates among chil‐ domains of SBCC, that could be adopted in ongoing pro‐
dren has declined minimally in the State of Karnataka, but grammes and schemes are beneficial for strategic improve‐
what is astounding is that the level has remained unduly high ment and capability.
and strangely affect the low and middle‐income communities.
Childhood undernutrition is associated with impaired cogni‐ 1. Communication using community appropriate and pre‐
tive, physical, and metabolic functions, leading to poor mental ferred channels of communication to address their nu‐
development and school achievement and behavioural devia‐ trition/health needs, (eg community radio stations as a
tions and increases the risk of Non communicable diseases. platform for airing local problems, resources and mind‐
sets from local voices),
The data from National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS5) clear‐
2. Behaviour changes to facilitate and maximise nutrition
ly indicates that the levels of improvements are not uniform
related actions, for instance food processing or cooking
across the State or districts and even within districts, inter‐
techniques that conserves nutrients or prevents wast‐
group disparities prevail. Inadequate improvements on nu‐
age (eg engaging women’s self‐help groups in food pro‐
tritional parameters and deprived maternal child health and
cessing for local foods),
nutrition practices are some of the barriers that are counter
productive to the nutrition goal. Attention needs to be drawn to
3. Social change to achieve shifts that enable communities’
the developmental lags among socially disadvantaged groups
engagement and participation in nutrition and health
which raises several concerns, despite policy measures and al‐
interventions, for instance promoting Agroecological
location of resources.
practices ( eg diversified crop rotation, organic farming,
Evidence suggests that stunting can be irrevocable if not ad‐ biological pest control, Agro forestry, integrated farm‐
dressed in the first 1000 days of child life leading to the in‐ ing all have impact on safe food system).
tergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Therefore, instituting a
Needless to mention that SBCC interventions, focusing on
strategy for this phase is given priority in all the schemes and
nutrition, are critical in addressing improved nutrition and
programmes by all relevant sectors. Yet the improvements in
child anthropometric outcomes. It’s time that we innovate in
promoting gender and social equity, infant and young child
our advocacy strategy to support individuals, families, com‐
feeding practices, or bringing dietary diversity regime, Water,
munities, institutions, to adopt and maintain high‐impact
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related issues have not been
nutrition‐related practices.
able to make a dent at the household levels, though these nu‐
trition sensitive issues compliment nutrition specific inter‐
ventions. Perhaps these cross‐cutting issues demands special
consideration and innovative transactional approaches from
policy to practice levels. The diversity in terms of resources,
access, culture, awareness, habits vary and one size fits all ap‐
proach would not pay dividends but localising solutions is the
need of the hour.
Changes in behaviours is essential to improve nutrition, par‐

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