Maternal and newborn nutrition: new insights

Uganda’s Ministry of Health, with support from CHAI, conducted a national readiness assessment to inform the transition from Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in maternal health. The mixed-methods assessment covering 18 districts, 36 public facilities, and 67 private outlets reviewed policy frameworks, supply chains, and service delivery readiness. Findings revealed strong IFA integration (94% facility availability) and functional supply systems but highlighted key gaps, including limited anemia testing (50%), inadequate staff training (70%), and absence of MMS in national guidelines and regulatory classifications. Private sector readiness was low, with no outlets stocking complete MMS formulations. Despite these gaps, strong political commitment, a robust public health supply chain, and emerging local manufacturing capacity present an opportunity for phased MMS introduction. The assessment recommends updating policy frameworks, strengthening provider capacity, and harmonizing supply systems to ensure an evidence-based rollout that advances Uganda’s maternal nutrition goals.

This study examined whether enhanced maternal nutrition and infection treatment during pregnancy improved early child neurodevelopment, measured by the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE). We included the offspring of pregnant women enrolled in a cluster randomized trial (2021-2022) in rural Amhara, Ethiopia, who received either enhanced prenatal nutrition (counseling, iodized salt, targeted protein energy supplementation) and enhanced prenatal infection management or routine care. Children underwent HINE at 12-15 months (n=455) and brain MRI at 14-18 months (n=63). Mean HINE score was 74.9 (SD 2.8). There were no differences in HINE scores between intervention and control groups overall (adjusted mean difference −0.2, 95% CI −2.62 to 2.22) or among children born to women with mid-upper arm circumference < 23 cm. HINE scores were not associated with global or regional brain volumes. Findings suggest enhanced prenatal nutrition and infection treatment did not significantly influence this measure of early neurodevelopment.

This study aimed to design a model for providing specialized lactation support to preterm mother-baby dyads using three step processes with a comprehensive mixed method a qualitative , quantitative assessment of knowledge and skill health care providers, and facility readiness assessment followed by co design workshop with parents and supply-side stakeholders. Strategies were identified to overcome the barriers through co-design workshop. Out of 30 barriers identified through the formative assessment ten were prioritized by the stakeholders and five by parents. Of the 39 strategies identified, ten facility level and five community level strategies were prioritized. These strategies were refined and categorized into two areas: optimization of standard maternal and newborn care, and provision of SLS for mother-newborn dyads. A human centered co-design approach combined with systematic model development steps, enabled us to capture and integrate the perspectives of both parents and demand-side stakeholders into the model.