Interventions to improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age in Southeast Asia: A narrative review on what works, what might work, and what doesn't work

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interventions to improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age in Southeast Asia

T2 - A narrative review on what works, what might work, and what doesn't work

AU - Dijkhuizen, Marjoleine Amma

AU - Greffeille, Valerie

AU - Roos, Nanna

AU - Berger, Jacques

AU - Wieringa, Frank T

N1 - CURIS 2019 NEXS 060

PY - 2019/1/15

Y1 - 2019/1/15

N2 - Objectives: To provide an overview of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions that could improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age. Methods: This narrative review has a special focus on Southeast Asia, as the work was undertaken within the framework of the SMILING (Sustainable Micronutrient Interventions to controL deficiencies and Improve Nutrition status and General health in Southeast Asia) project. Results: In order for new interventions to become accepted, comprehension and interpretation of potential impact of different strategies by policymakers and non-nutritionists is needed. By presenting a wide overview of strategies, and discussing the context and current consensus on these strategies, the review aims to help with the formulation of new recommendations for national programs in Southeast Asia. Conclusions: Current policies in Southeast Asia to improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age are focused too much on single micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women (iron and folic acid supplements). A more holistic approach, including both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, is needed.

AB - Objectives: To provide an overview of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions that could improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age. Methods: This narrative review has a special focus on Southeast Asia, as the work was undertaken within the framework of the SMILING (Sustainable Micronutrient Interventions to controL deficiencies and Improve Nutrition status and General health in Southeast Asia) project. Results: In order for new interventions to become accepted, comprehension and interpretation of potential impact of different strategies by policymakers and non-nutritionists is needed. By presenting a wide overview of strategies, and discussing the context and current consensus on these strategies, the review aims to help with the formulation of new recommendations for national programs in Southeast Asia. Conclusions: Current policies in Southeast Asia to improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age are focused too much on single micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women (iron and folic acid supplements). A more holistic approach, including both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, is needed.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Women of reproductive age

KW - Micronutrient

KW - Iron

KW - Folic acid

KW - Deficiency

KW - Supplementation

KW - Fortification

U2 - 10.1007/s10995-018-2637-4

DO - 10.1007/s10995-018-2637-4

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30357535

SN - 1092-7875

VL - 23

SP - S18-S28

JO - Maternal and Child Health Journal

JF - Maternal and Child Health Journal

IS - Suppl. 1

ER -