New publication available: Evaluation of the AIN-C Program in Honduras
You can now download Evaluation of the AIN-C Program in Honduras by clicking here. The Honduras AIN-C (Atención Integral a la Niñez en la Comunidad or Integrated Community Child Health Program) is a national-scale, community-based growth promotion program aimed at preventing under-nutrition in children below two years of age. AIN-C was initially launched in the mid 1990s and intensely supported by USAID over the period from 1998 to 2005.
Evaluation of the AIN-C Program in Honduras is based on an analysis of data collected in 2002, during USAID/BASICS' second contract cycle, but not concluded at the time. Given the importance of the AIN-C Program, analysis of the earlier data was taken up and completed during the current phase of USAID/BASICS.
Results demonstrate that AIN-C had a considerable, positive impact on young child feeding and care practices. For example, the proportion of caregivers who appropriately fed children aged 6 to 23 months, the percentage of children who were fully immunized by 13 months, and the percentage of children who received iron and vitamin A supplementation by 23 months were all significantly higher in the AIN-C group than among non-participants. There was also a positive impact on nutritional status, especially among children from poorer households and those who participated more regularly in the program. AIN-C participation was associated with a modest but positive effect on weight-for-height among poorer households, and intensity of participation (i.e., attendance at weighing sessions) was positively associated with weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and height-for-age.