1. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR NUTRITION DATA COLLECTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

2. Aspects Covered:  Field Research In Developing Countries Purpose Conditions Challenges  Adapting Tools for Nutrition Field Research  Tools Tested

3. Purpose of Field Research  To Learn Community Practices Agriculture, Nutrition, Child rearing, etc  Identify Community Needs Felt Needs Unfelt Needs

4. Purpose of Field Research  Identified Practices Could Be : Positive: to be encouraged Harmful: to be discouraged through education

5. Enablers of Field Research  Resources/ Researchers Side Expertise Time Budget, etc  Resources/ Community Side: Acceptance Time Literacy level, etc.

6. Field Research: Challenges for Nutrition Educators  Limited Services : Telephone Survey Questionnaire Email  Literacy Level: Food Records Food Frequencies  Diminishing Food Resources Not applicable Questionable

7. What Alternatives Are There?

8. The Challenge for Nutrition Profession: To Respond to Household Needs In Special Way that Balances: Current KnowledgeIndigenous Skills

9. Adapting Methods for Nutrition Field Research  Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA ): Focuses on full participation of a given community in studying community needs, planning, implementing and assessing intervention impacts.

10. PRA Guidelines  Respect/ Humility  Complete Ignorance  Diversity of Analysis  Continuity

11. Adaptable Techniques 1. Mapping 2. Transect Walk 3. Individual Case Studies 4. Seasonality Analysis 5. Ranking and Scoring 6. Historical Profiles

12. Adaptable PRA Techniques for Nutrition Field Research  Mapping: Method for Visual Representation of Study Area Drawn by Study Participants Practical Entry Point for Discussion Helps to Explore Community Resources Example: Ask participants to locate related places How does distance affect food intake? What do participants recommend?

13. Maps Study Area

15. Transect Walk  A systematic walk in a study area with key informants.

16. Individual Case Studies  In-depth Study of: Individuals Nutritional practices Farming Systems, Etc. Example for Nutrition Why are some children healthy while some are not, given the same living situations?

17. Seasonality Analysis  Helps to assess: Opportunities affecting living situations Seasonal Constraints  Examples for Nutrition Use Market Food Prices Food Availability Labor Demand Income Expenditure Disease Incidences Daily Routines

19. Ranking & Scoring  Method for Identifying: Preferences Local criteria's  Related Techniques Wealth Ranking Proportional Pilling  Examples for Nutrition Use Choices b/t food groups Food distribution Food Expenses Selection of risk groups Identifying priority areas, etc

20. Wealth Ranking - Cattle

21. Historical Profiles Historical Profiles  A detailed account of the past.  Indicates: Trends Relationships Changes over time Note: elderly groups are good resources.  Casual free conversation  Example for Nutrition Use Indicates: Changes of food consumption patterns Factors for such changes Are the changes positive or negative? Possible solution/ Suggestions

22. Means For Reducing Possible Bias  Acknowledge: bias will be there, but try to minimize it!  Possible Bias : Frame related: Old listing ( Missing, or foreign elements) Wealth ranking bias Instrument related (check list, items for ranking, seasonality analysis) Interviewer bias Cross check listing Adequate discussion Watch for sizes/uniformity Provide training Explain purpose

23. Assumptions Instrument developed enabled to get the right information Training & interviewing process has enabled to control possible biases

24. Assumptions Wealth classification is realistic to local situation. Participants have given realistic answers.

25. Thank you