European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety 5(5): 1065-1066, 2015, Article no.EJNFS.2015.433 ISSN: 2347-5641
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An Economic Model for Optimizing Effective Coverage of MN interventions: A Case Study of Cameroon Stephen Vosti1*, Reina Engle-Stone1, Justin Kagin2, Joanne Arsenault1, Robert Hijmans1, Ryan Murphy1, Erica Rettig1, Ann Tarini3 and Kenneth H. Brown1 1
UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA. Kagins Consulting, Vacaville, CA, USA. 3 Helen Keller International, Yaounde, Cameroon. 2
Article Information DOI: 10.9734/EJNFS/2015/21244 Special Editors: Lucie Bohac, Micronutrient Forum Secretariat, Canada. Klaus Kraemer, Director, Sight and Life, Basel, Switzerland. Chief Editor Prof. Hans Verhagen, Senior Scientific Advisor ‘Nutrition and Food Safety’, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O.Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Conference Abstract
Received 5th February 2015 st Accepted 1 March 2015 th Published 14 August 2015
ABSTRACT Objectives: Micronutrient (MN) interventions are generally undertaken at national scale. New spatially disaggregated data on MN deficiencies in Cameroon suggest that subnational strategies may be more efficient, but methods to choose among alternative interventions are needed. We developed a tool to plan and manage sub-national MN interventions for Cameroon. Methods: Data from a nationally representative multi-stage cluster survey were used to determine the spatial distribution of MN deficiencies among population sub-groups at greatest risk. Macroregion-specific data (North, South, Douala/Yaoundé) on food intake were used to predict the effects of alternative MN intervention strategies on the prevalence of inadequate MN intake and absorption. MN supplements, fortified and biofortified foods, deworming and behavioral change communication to promote breastfeeding are among the interventions examined. Costs of alternative interventions were prepared. The costs and nutritional benefits of alternative interventions are included in an economic optimization model that chooses the best combination of MN interventions to ensure adequate MN intake, at regional level, over a ten-year planning horizon, given funding and other constraints. Results: Preliminary results indicate large spatial differences in MN deficiencies, e.g., estimated _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Correspondence: Lucie Bohac, Coordinator, Micronutrient Forum Secretariat (email:
[email protected]) Note: This abstract was presented at “The Micronutrient Forum Global Conference – Bridging Discovery and Delivery”, 2-6 June 2014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Vosti et al.; EJNFS, 5(5): 1065-1066, 2015; Article no.EJNFS.2015.433
prevalence of vitamin A deficiency varied from ~62% (North region) to ~22% (Northwest region). Consumption of VA-rich foods and fortifiable foods also varies spatially. Hence, program efficiency may be enhanced by adopting targeted sub-national MN intervention strategies. Conclusions: Given spatial patterns in MN deficiencies, diet-driven effectiveness of alternative MN interventions, and costs of these interventions, sub-national MN interventions may offer efficiency gains that exceed the costs of planning and implementing them.
© 2015 Vosti et al.; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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