Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India

Background. Positive deviance is increasingly employed in international development activities to permit the utilization of proven local solutions. Including positive deviance methods in evaluation analysis, particularly in places like Bihar, India, where the rates of child underweight hover at 55%,...

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Autores principales: Levinson F James, Barney, J., Bassett, Lucy, Schultink, W.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2007
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171861
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author Levinson F James
Barney, J.
Bassett, Lucy
Schultink, W.
author_browse Barney, J.
Bassett, Lucy
Levinson F James
Schultink, W.
author_facet Levinson F James
Barney, J.
Bassett, Lucy
Schultink, W.
author_sort Levinson F James
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background. Positive deviance is increasingly employed in international development activities to permit the utilization of proven local solutions. Including positive deviance methods in evaluation analysis, particularly in places like Bihar, India, where the rates of child underweight hover at 55%, can help identify project activities and household characteristics that affect key outcomes. These can, in turn, inform decision-making regarding the intensification of particularly promising activities. Objectives. To apply positive deviance analysis to the Dular program in Bihar, a community-based nutrition program that seeks to improve the impact of India’s Integrated Child Development Services on young children. Methods. In order to assure that desired program outcomes were not dependent on higher economic status, the analysis isolated a subset of program beneficiaries—the poorest children with the best nutritional outcomes—and examined the behavioral and project factors that may have brought about positive results in this subgroup. The data for this analysis were drawn from a 2005 program evaluation with a sample of 1,560 children. Results. The analysis found that positive deviant children with normal nutritional status in the poorest 50% of Dular households were introduced to complementary food almost 2 months earlier (7.18 vs. 9.02 months of age) than severely malnourished children, were more than twice as likely to use soap for handwashing after defecation (25.0% vs. 11.8%), and were more than seven times as likely to have literate mothers (25.0% vs. 3.5%). Conclusions. The analysis suggests that programmatic efforts relating to these activities have been particularly effective and may well deserve increased investment.
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spelling CGSpace1718612025-02-19T14:06:42Z Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India Levinson F James Barney, J. Bassett, Lucy Schultink, W. nutrition Background. Positive deviance is increasingly employed in international development activities to permit the utilization of proven local solutions. Including positive deviance methods in evaluation analysis, particularly in places like Bihar, India, where the rates of child underweight hover at 55%, can help identify project activities and household characteristics that affect key outcomes. These can, in turn, inform decision-making regarding the intensification of particularly promising activities. Objectives. To apply positive deviance analysis to the Dular program in Bihar, a community-based nutrition program that seeks to improve the impact of India’s Integrated Child Development Services on young children. Methods. In order to assure that desired program outcomes were not dependent on higher economic status, the analysis isolated a subset of program beneficiaries—the poorest children with the best nutritional outcomes—and examined the behavioral and project factors that may have brought about positive results in this subgroup. The data for this analysis were drawn from a 2005 program evaluation with a sample of 1,560 children. Results. The analysis found that positive deviant children with normal nutritional status in the poorest 50% of Dular households were introduced to complementary food almost 2 months earlier (7.18 vs. 9.02 months of age) than severely malnourished children, were more than twice as likely to use soap for handwashing after defecation (25.0% vs. 11.8%), and were more than seven times as likely to have literate mothers (25.0% vs. 3.5%). Conclusions. The analysis suggests that programmatic efforts relating to these activities have been particularly effective and may well deserve increased investment. 2007-09 2025-01-29T12:58:52Z 2025-01-29T12:58:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171861 en Limited Access SAGE Publications Levinson F James; Barney, J.; Bassett, Lucy; Schultink, W. 2007. Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 28(3): 259-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/156482650702800301
spellingShingle nutrition
Levinson F James
Barney, J.
Bassett, Lucy
Schultink, W.
Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title_full Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title_fullStr Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title_full_unstemmed Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title_short Utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community-based nutrition programs: An application to the Dular program in Bihar, India
title_sort utilization of positive deviance analysis in evaluating community based nutrition programs an application to the dular program in bihar india
topic nutrition
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171861
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