Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations
Nutrition policies are critical frameworks for tackling the triple burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition (i.e., stunting and wasting), overweight, and hidden hunger (i.e., micronutrient deficiencies). We examined (1) the alignment of recent National Nutrition Strategies and Action Plans (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1277804/full |
| _version_ | 1797362409129639936 |
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| author | Tuan Thanh Nguyen Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Phuong Nam Huynh Paul Zambrano Mellissa Withers Jennifer Cashin Sedtha Chin Roger Mathisen |
| author_facet | Tuan Thanh Nguyen Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Phuong Nam Huynh Paul Zambrano Mellissa Withers Jennifer Cashin Sedtha Chin Roger Mathisen |
| author_sort | Tuan Thanh Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nutrition policies are critical frameworks for tackling the triple burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition (i.e., stunting and wasting), overweight, and hidden hunger (i.e., micronutrient deficiencies). We examined (1) the alignment of recent National Nutrition Strategies and Action Plans (NNS) in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with recent global and regional recommendations and standards with a focus on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition and (2) changes compared to the previous NNS. We extracted information regarding the context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNSs in Cambodia (2019–2023), Laos (2021–2025), and Vietnam (2021–2030). Recent NNSs aimed to reduce malnutrition among priority populations and described program development, monitoring, and evaluation plans for the following interventions: breastfeeding promotion, improved complementary feeding, dietary diversity, safe water, food security, nutritional/health campaigns, strategies for vulnerable groups, and strengthening of policies related to food and nutrition. Direct interventions to improve women’s general nutrition (outside of pregnancy) and adolescent nutrition were not the focus of any NNSs. Although some indicators (e.g., wasting and exclusive breastfeeding) were covered in all recent NNSs, other indicators (e.g., low birth weight and childhood overweight and obesity) were inconsistently incorporated. In comparison to the previous NNS, the following interventions were discontinued in three countries: dietary counseling, maintaining physical activity, monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, maternal micronutrient supplementation, and nutrition and HIV. Despite similarities in structure and content, the recent NNSs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam do not consistently align with global and regional recommendations. Variations in the types of interventions and indicators included may reflect a shift in priorities, attention, or resources. In conclusion, the NNSs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam exhibit both structural and content similarities; however, certain interventions and indicators vary across countries and differ from global and regional recommendations. Enhancing alignment while prioritizing country-specific needs, optimizing coordination, ensuring policy efficacy, and updating nutrition strategy data for cross-country comparisons and knowledge exchange is critical to ensure progress on reducing malnutrition in the region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:07:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a16ddf94bf2444ce81ee0608b5c0cf20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:07:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-a16ddf94bf2444ce81ee0608b5c0cf202024-01-08T05:04:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2024-01-011010.3389/fnut.2023.12778041277804Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendationsTuan Thanh Nguyen0Ngoc Long Huynh1Ngoc Long Huynh2Ngoc Long Huynh3Phuong Nam Huynh4Paul Zambrano5Mellissa Withers6Jennifer Cashin7Sedtha Chin8Roger Mathisen9Alive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Hanoi, VietnamAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Hanoi, VietnamKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesSocial Marketing & Communication, FHI 360, Washington, DC, United StatesScientific Management Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hanoi, VietnamAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Manila, PhilippinesKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Washington, DC, United StatesAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Phnom Penh, CambodiaAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Hanoi, VietnamNutrition policies are critical frameworks for tackling the triple burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition (i.e., stunting and wasting), overweight, and hidden hunger (i.e., micronutrient deficiencies). We examined (1) the alignment of recent National Nutrition Strategies and Action Plans (NNS) in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with recent global and regional recommendations and standards with a focus on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition and (2) changes compared to the previous NNS. We extracted information regarding the context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNSs in Cambodia (2019–2023), Laos (2021–2025), and Vietnam (2021–2030). Recent NNSs aimed to reduce malnutrition among priority populations and described program development, monitoring, and evaluation plans for the following interventions: breastfeeding promotion, improved complementary feeding, dietary diversity, safe water, food security, nutritional/health campaigns, strategies for vulnerable groups, and strengthening of policies related to food and nutrition. Direct interventions to improve women’s general nutrition (outside of pregnancy) and adolescent nutrition were not the focus of any NNSs. Although some indicators (e.g., wasting and exclusive breastfeeding) were covered in all recent NNSs, other indicators (e.g., low birth weight and childhood overweight and obesity) were inconsistently incorporated. In comparison to the previous NNS, the following interventions were discontinued in three countries: dietary counseling, maintaining physical activity, monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, maternal micronutrient supplementation, and nutrition and HIV. Despite similarities in structure and content, the recent NNSs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam do not consistently align with global and regional recommendations. Variations in the types of interventions and indicators included may reflect a shift in priorities, attention, or resources. In conclusion, the NNSs of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam exhibit both structural and content similarities; however, certain interventions and indicators vary across countries and differ from global and regional recommendations. Enhancing alignment while prioritizing country-specific needs, optimizing coordination, ensuring policy efficacy, and updating nutrition strategy data for cross-country comparisons and knowledge exchange is critical to ensure progress on reducing malnutrition in the region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1277804/fullASEANmaternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN)national nutrition strategy (NNS)plan of action for nutritionSoutheast Asia |
| spellingShingle | Tuan Thanh Nguyen Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Ngoc Long Huynh Phuong Nam Huynh Paul Zambrano Mellissa Withers Jennifer Cashin Sedtha Chin Roger Mathisen Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations Frontiers in Nutrition ASEAN maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) national nutrition strategy (NNS) plan of action for nutrition Southeast Asia |
| title | Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| title_full | Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| title_short | Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| title_sort | bridging the evidence to action gap enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in cambodia laos and vietnam with global and regional recommendations |
| topic | ASEAN maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) national nutrition strategy (NNS) plan of action for nutrition Southeast Asia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1277804/full |
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