Join ANH and ENN on 24th for a practical workshop (online) exploring the knowledge and actions at the intersections between food systems and climate change for improved nutrition and well-being.

In the workshop, we will explore:

• Key evidence gaps from recent systematic work in this arena
• Gaps and potential solutions, exemplified by the African Population and Health Research Center's research on climate change impacts on women & children's nutrition & mental health in Eastern African drylands
• A live demonstration of how to use an interactive Evidence and Gap Map on this topic to answer questions and strengthen your work
• Ways for the nutrition, food systems and climate communities to gain momentum towards better population and planetary outcomes in research and practice.

Register at: https://www.anh-academy.org/community/events/save-the-date-making-progress-at-the-intersections-of-food-systems-nutrition-and

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to share with you a new update of our IYCF-E repository. Below we share with you an outline of some highlights of recently published papers.

You can use the interactive dashboard feature to search by keyword and filter by publication type (such as reviews, original research, editorials), countries of interest, and selected topic areas. Users can view or download a PDF version by following the link at the top left of the dashboard.

Since our last update in January 2024, we have added 12 NEW publications to our scientific repository related to IYCF in emergency settings (168 total). In addition to several international reviews, this update describes recent findings and ongoing research from Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, Somaliland, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the Netherlands, the United States, and Türkiye.

Click here to view the updated repository

Several new publications offer guidance for protecting IYCF and nutrition in humanitarian settings, including reviews of current guidelines to identify gaps. This update offers new guidance related to the safety of breastfeeding after exposure to chemical and biological agents used in modern warfare, including safety considerations during treatment and practical guidance for breastmilk testing, monitoring symptoms, safe use of expressed breastmilk, and the minimum amount of time before breastfeeding can safely resume. Other guidelines mention strategies to support breastfeeding, safe alternatives to breastfeeding, facilitating relactation and induced lactation, and complementary feeding in emergency settings. Another review describes facilitators and barriers to wet nursing, contemporary attitudes and beliefs, and strategies to facilitate and support wet nursing in emergencies. Researchers highlighted gaps in current literature, including a lack of practical guidance for small and vulnerable newborns, wet nursing, and strengthening health systems in humanitarian settings.

Other researchers examine the impacts natural disasters and climate change on IYCF. One study describes changes in maternity care and breastfeeding practices following hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico, highlighting the important role of healthcare workers in supporting breastfeeding following childbirth, especially when regular breastfeeding and other postnatal services are interrupted. One commentary describes three stages of protecting nutrition following a natural disaster, with specific recommendations for each stage. Another article explores the impact of climate change on breastfeeding, emphasizing the need for region-specific climate action plans that incorporate IYCF.

New publications on IYCF in displaced families include the first known report of successful adoptive breastfeeding in a refugee camp, the impact of financial assistance on child stunting among Syrian refugees in Türkiye, and strategies to reduce the high prevalence of diarrheal illness among young children living in internally displaced camps in Somaliland. Another study explored IYCF knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, practices among refugee, migrant, and asylum seekers in Portugal, noting key differences in IYCF practices between migrant and the host populations and highlighting the need for universal breastfeeding support in hospital settings.

If you know anyone who would benefit from these updates, please direct them to this link to sign up for our email listserv. We aim to publish updates every 3 months – look for our next update in July 2024.

The IYCF-E Repository Team

As others pointed out, the EPI method is not advisable for sampling. If the ‘clusters’ are already selected (assuming at village level), then the list of the HHs at the sampled cluster often done using the villagers and local knowledge in most context in south sudan (the survey team doesn’t necessary need to move around the entire village to list the HHs). So, active involvement of the local people at the ground during the planning stage is very important. If the selected cluster (village), is large or the HHs dispersed as you described, then 'segmentation' can be done (assuming the village has >than 100 HHs). At the end, you will end up of using either random or systematic sampling to select the required HHs in the sampled cluster. I understand the challenges in some circumstances, but we should do our utmost to avoid sampling error/bias during the planning stage.

RAM-OP method applies different methodology for selection of clusters/PSUs at Stage One (not PPS)

Spot on!

During the second stage sampling, it is advisable to liaise with the village leaders/authorities to come up with an updated list of households per cluster (sampling frame) dependent of your household definition and subsequently apply simple random or systematic random sampling.

In cases where clusters are large (approximate more than 100 households), Segmentation is applied based on PPS followed by either simple random or systematic random sampling. Further detailed information can be obtained from;
1.Module 3-Sampling
2. Sampling for SMART, Pgs. 26-32 (Complementary Tools &Resources, download Handouts)
http://smartmethodology.org/survey-planning-tools/smart-capacity-building-toolbox/

It is important to note that EPI method /pen spinning is not as highly recommended because of its limitation of introducing selection bias.