Supporting Optimal Infant, Young Child and Maternal Nutrition and Health in Jordan: An Evaluation of the CHN Program

Breastfeeding (BF) plays an important foundation for a healthy and well-developed child, and complementary feeding (CF) builds upon this foundation. Appropriate timing and introduction of high-quality complementary foods are key to sound infant, young child feeding (IYCF) practices. There is compelling evidence that BF and CF are crucial for the growth and development of a child, and in preventing malnutrition. Given this context, the USAID-supported "Community Health and Nutrition" (CHN) is being implemented in three governorates (Amman, Karak, Zarqa) of Jordan to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under the age of two years. The program will fulfill this goal by implementing activities to support improvement in IYCF practices, increase adoption of optimal family planning practices and maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) practices, and by improving health care provider support for proper IYCF practices and use of modern contraceptives methods (MCMs).

The purpose of the comprehensive evaluation is to assess USAID supported Community Health and Nutrition (CHN) program's ability to effect change. The evaluation will assess the effectiveness of CHN in influencing the knowledge, attitudes, practices, motivation, and support of health care providers, as well as the behavior change in pregnant and lactating women of reproductive age and their infants/young children thus supporting optimal maternal, infant and young child nutrition and health.

The study will utilize a cluster-randomized stratified stepped wedge design with two steps and two strata (cohort I and cohort 2). The stepped wedge study design is a staggered rollout design in which treatments are introduced to clusters at different time points. This design is particularly well suited for evaluating large-scale programs, like CHN, that roll out the intervention across clusters in phases. The use of strata (stratification) ensures representation of both regional and facility-level differences across the two cohorts.

The investigators will conduct 4 repeat annual cross-sectional surveys on women of reproductive age who are pregnant or are lactating and have a child under 2 years of age. Women will be recruited in the facilities and data will be collected at 12-month intervals. They will also conduct 3 repeat annual cross-sectional surveys on service providers (health care providers and community health agents) who work at these health facilities and within districts that are targets of the CHN program.