Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part A (2025)

Promoting nutritional security is both an institutional and individual noble cause. The government of Uganda and several stakeholders have invested in nutritional health interventions. In 2003, a public-private partnership was established between Uganda and Iowa State University (ISU) of the United States. ISU, through its Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood, has since invested in interrelated livelihood education programs (LEPs) to end hunger in Uganda. Nutrition programs are fostered through the community-based nutrition education centers (NECs) initiated in 2010 to manage malnutrition among children 0-59 months of age and their primary caretaker. This study assessed the impacts of NECs’ programs on nutrition security in Kamuli district. A comparative approach was employed to study the relationship between participants’ affiliation with NECs, participation in LEPs, as well as their household socioeconomic and reproductive characteristics, maternal practices, and nutrition security. The study was based on a survey of 454 households with 606 children. Anthropometric measurements were taken of primary caretakers and children. Caretakers’ nutritional health status was based on their Body Mass Index to determine the rates of underweight, overweight, or healthy statuses. Children’s anthropometric measurements were transformed into Z-scores using the WHO-Anthro software to assess the rates of undernutrition: stunting, underweight, or wasting. Respondents were categorized into three categories: program households who are 1) NEC clients and 2) non-NEC clients, and 3) non-program participants. Results showed that NEC clients and non-program participants were healthier nutritionally than non-NEC clients. However, NEC clients had more underweight caretakers than the two other groups. Incidents of underweight caretakers were strongly associated with low education and young age at first pregnancy. Related to participation in LEPs, the study found that participants in nutrition and infant feeding, public health, and complementary services, such as taking nutrient-dense/therapeutic porridge, were associated with nutritionally healthier caretakers than non-participants. Similarly, participants in agronomy, postharvest, and livestock programs were associated with fewer incidences of underweight and overweight caretakers than non-participants. On children’s health, there were more stunted (37.1%) than underweight (22.7%) or wasted (16.7%) children. Incidents of stunting and wasting affected more boys, whereas underweight affected more girls. Stunting and underweight increased with age and significantly affected the 24-35 and 36-47 age groups, respectively. More stunted (39.7%) and underweight (24.0%) children were found among non-program participants. Stunting and underweight children were strongly associated with underweight caretakers. Overall, 51.1% were healthy and 48.9% undernourished. Recommendations for improving the program include participatory planning involving community, cultural, and government partners in the design of activities, decision-making to strengthen implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of maternal practices. Collaboration with health workers and village health trainers to educate and encourage households to adopt improved maternity practices and monitor children.