Micronutrient

News

Photo of the three SPRING team members posing together.

SPRING participated in the CORE Group Global Health Practitioner Conference, delivering a presentation on engaging men for improved nutrition, and sharing research on hemoglobin measurement...

Image displaying a cascading stack of the front pages for the three articles.

Key participants of the Micronutrient Powders Consultation wrote a series of three articles to discuss and elevate the literature on micronutrient powder implementation research.

Photo: SPRING staff member Mike Mazinga presents on the current status of maize milling in Uganda.

In November 2017, SPRING/Uganda invited maize flour producers and other stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in fortifying flour and learn about technology options for...

Keywords: Fortification, Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda
Picking up materials from the SPRING booth

SPRING’s presentation highlighted the role of Village Health Teams in closing the gap between health facilities and caregivers.

SPRING, GHS training of District Health Staff on anemia curriculum in Tamale. Taken during a session on iron-, vitamin A- and vitamin C-rich food.

SPRING/Ghana is supporting the Ghana Health Service in building the capacity of its health workers and community health volunteers of the Northern Region to tackle the major public health...

Talian Grain Millers' Production Manager holds up a scoop of fortified maize flour

SPRING/Uganda trained maize millers to fortify maize flour and adopt good manufacturing practices.

Collage showing a MNP packet, a sign of Namutumba, a presentation of data, and a SPRING vehicle

SPRING supervises the collection of data from 1,600 individuals to provide guidance for implementation of micronutrient powder (MNP) programs.

SPRING staff showing a bottle of fortified cooking oil to a mother holding her baby.

SPRING/Uganda participated in the expo to create awareness about the benefits of fortified foods.

Keywords: Fortification, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda
Dr. Namaste presenting at the Micronutrient Forum 2016

Five staff members represented SPRING at the 2016 Micronutrient Forum Global Conference in Cancun, Mexico

Keywords: Multi-sector, Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Mexico
A child receives a vitamin A supplement

SPRING/Bangladesh provided secretarial and logistical supports and assisted in community mobilization activities in Khulna and Barisal divisions for the successful observance of the Vitamin...

Data collectors learning to use GPS.

SPRING interviewed 64 Micronutrient Powder users and distributors to identify successes understand barriers they face in using and distributing MNP.

Presentation at MTT meeting

SPRING presents anemia landscape analysis findings and guides efforts on anemia training and IFA operational research at the Micronutrient Task Team meeting in Ghana

Events

Micronutrient powders (MNP) are a mixture of micronutrients in single-dose sachets that are mixed in young children's food to reduce anemia and iron deficiency.

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Online
Micronutrient Forum event invite

The 2016 Micronutrient Forum Global Conference-a global conference that brings together specialists from a wide array of sectors who share an interest in reducing micronutrient malnutrition...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Cancun, Mexico

Journal Articles

Screenshot of the website where this document is housed. Contains the title and authors.

This paper focuses on programmatic experiences in the planning stages of an MNP intervention, encompassing assessment, enabling environment and adaptation, as well as considerations for...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Screenshot of the website where this document is housed. Contains the title and authors.

This paper focuses on programmatic experiences related to MNP delivery (models, platforms, and channels), SBCC, and training. Methods included a review of published and grey literature,...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Screenshot of the website where this document is housed. Contains the title and authors.

This paper focuses on how MNP interventions undertook key elements of programme improvement, specifically, the use of programme theory, monitoring, process evaluation, and supportive...

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia

Galleries

Participants listen to SPRING’s findings on the current status of maize milling.

On November 13th, SPRING/Uganda invited maize flour producers in Uganda to learn about challenges and opportunities in fortifying flour and shared resources on potential technology options...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda
Photo: Goretti Kyebajia, a health facility staff from Namutumba district, reviews the MNP materials.

SPRING presented the results of our formative, qualitative, and cost-effectiveness research on micronutrient powders in Namutumba district to district and national stakeholders during a one...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda
Salima Muyodi a VHT teaches mothers and caretakers about MNP. MNP are an effective intervention for decreasing anemia in young children, but getting the benefits requires regular use of MNP from age 6 to 23 months.

SPRING/Uganda piloted two different methods of distributing micronutrient powders (MNP) to 22,234 children aged 6 - 23 months in Namutumba District.

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient, Fortification
Location: Uganda
Village health team members with boxes on MNPs and related materials

SPRING/Uganda is implementing a micronutrient powder (MNP) program

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia
Location: Uganda

Videos

Two women sit and talk. One woman holds a packet of micronutrient powder and explains its benefits to the other woman.

This video provides an overview of SPRING/Uganda's work in micronutrient powders.

Success Stories

Whitney, 2, with his grandmother Zewelensi, 60. Whitney was malnourished, but after three months of eating foods mixed with MNP, his health improved.

SPRING, which applies a multi-sectoral approach to reduce stunting and anemia, helped the Ugandan Ministry of Health pilot the rollout MNP sachet distribution in both health facilities and...

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia
Location: Uganda

Reports

Photo of several people gathered outside looking at calendars.

Micronutrient powders (MNP) are one of the few interventions that address multiple micronutrient deficiencies simultaneously and contribute to anemia reduction in young children from six to...

Man teaches another man about nutrition

In May and July 2014, follow-up surveys to the 2013 SPRING household baseline survey were separately conducted in each region after a period of one year among the intervention (Kisoro and...

Posters

Experiences and Learning from the 'Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance'

USAID’s global nutrition project, SPRING, convened MNP experts in a year-long effort to share evidence and experience for MNP interventions, complementing existing resources.

Challenges with Identifying Rapid Methods that are Accurate and Cost Effective for Food Fortification Monitoring and Inspections

The USAID-funded SPRING project in Uganda compared the performance of iCheck test kits in measuring levels of iron, iodine, and vitamin A in fortified food samples against the performance...

Keywords: Anemia, Multi-sector, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda
Section of the poster

The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) established a micronutrient technical working group (MN-TWG) in July 2012 and tasked it with exploring the potential rollout of MNP in Uganda. The group...

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia
Location: Uganda
Using SBCC to Lower Barriers to Appropriate Use of Micronutrient Powders in Uganda

With researchers from the University of British Columbia, the Micronutrient Technical Working Group (MN-TWG) conducted formative research to assess the acceptability of MNP in Uganda and to...

Section of the poster

Although micronutrient powders (MNP) are a promising intervention for reducing anemia in young children, research on MNP has focused more on clinical outcomes than operational issues.

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia
Location: Uganda

Pages

Resource Review Summaries

GAIN Executive Director Lawrence Haddad eloquently summarizes the key issues related to operationalizing micronutrient powders (MNP), drawing on information from SPRING’s report on a global...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

In this study, researchers compare sachet count or self-reporting forms to electronic devices for measuring adherence to daily home fortification with micronutrient powders (MNP) and...

Keywords: Anemia, Fortification, Micronutrient
Location: Kenya

This study assessed anthropometric measurements and developmental and laboratory outcomes in children born to women who received daily iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation, twice...

This study assessed the impact of a local animal-sourced food (ASF) supplement on the micronutrient status of rural, Vietnamese women aged 18-30 years. Participants of this study were given...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Vietnam

Biofortification to address nutrient deficiencies unites agriculture and nutrition to improve the health and livelihoods of smallholder farming families – still the majority of the...

This study, conducted in The Gambia, explored the protective nature of iron deficiency anemia against malaria. Findings showed that anemia, more so than sickle-cell trait, hindered the...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient, Supplementation
Location: Gambia

A new trial has been designed to examine how the timing of micronutrient powder (MNP) interventions can impact iron absorption and consequently iron and anemia status in infants. The...

Keywords: Micronutrient

In Thailand, many of the local source foods do not meet the nutritional needs of children, which can lead to deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron – a major cause of anemia. Thai...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient, Fortification
Location: Thailand

The World Health Organization released global guidance on micronutrient powders (MNP) for children aged 6-23 months and 2-12 years. The guideline recommends MNP with complementary foods for...

Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in crops and people in sub-Saharan Africa. Agronomic biofortification can increase yields and micronutrient contents of these crops, but there is a...

The Micronutrient Forum Global Conference took place in Cancun on October 24 – 28, 2016. The theme of the event was prioritizing women’s nutrition in order to achieve the Sustainable...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient, Multi-sector
Location: Mexico

Holly McKee, of Bioanalyt, tells of her experience supporting data collection to evaluate Helen Keller International’s Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) program in Indonesia. The...

The Micronutrient Initiative (MI), in collaboration with the Government of Canada, launched the Right Start program in Senegal, with the goal of reducing anemia in women and adolescent...

This document provides the most recent WHO guidelines for use of iron supplementation in postpartum women. The guidelines review evidence on safety and effectiveness to support policy-...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

The Home Fortification Technical Advisory Group (HF-TAG) has released a revision to their Toolkit, which guides program planning for Micronutrient Powders (MNP). The toolkit complements...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

This study investigated whether text message reminders improved the efficacy of micronutrient powder in western China. Children 6 to 12 months were assigned to receive MNP and text message...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: China

In this study, researchers assessed absorption of therapeutic iron among children in Uganda that were given antimalarial treatment. Children aged 6-59 months with both malaria and anemia...

Keywords: Anemia, Fortification, Micronutrient
Location: Uganda

This systematic literature search explored whether children aged 6 to 23 months can fulfill their nutrient needs by consuming locally sourced foods. The results suggested that complementary...

On January 30, 2016, Peru’s Ministry of Health came together with the Ministry of Education for an event on anemia prevention. The event targeted mothers who coordinate communal kitchens in...

In this video, Binu Cherian and Parminder Virk of HarvestPlus discuss why biofortification can be an effective measure to help address micronutrient deficiencies, especially as a...

The World Health Organization (WHO) published global guidance on micronutrient powders (MNP) for point-of-use fortification of foods consumed by pregnant women. The guideline recommends...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

This study examined the impact of nutrition and hygiene interventions on stunting in full-term low-birthweight infants. Researchers found that hand sanitizer, combined with nutrition,...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Bangladesh

The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator acts as a tool for assessment, target-setting, and advocacy. MDD-W is a dichotomous indicator of whether or not women 15-49 years...

In this qualitative study, the authors found that health personnel have a great deal of influence on caregivers’ understanding and acceptance of micronutrient powders (MNPs). Home visits...

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia
Location: Peru

HarvestPlus is a global leader in the development of more nutritious and micronutrient-rich varieties of staple food crops. This process, known as biofortification, has proven to be an...

SPRING, UNICEF, and the World Food Program (WFP), in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH), launched a home fortification program as a strategy to combat micronutrient...

As part of the home fortification series, HF-TAG, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hosted their sixth webinar, titled “Learnings from...

Keywords: Micronutrient, Anemia

Professionals, organizations, and stakeholders will come together for the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference on October 24-28, 2016, in Cancun, Mexico. The focus for this year’s forum...

Despite rapid economic growth in recent years, South Asia still has among the highest child malnutrition rates in the world with half the child population undernourished. Besides children,...

Keywords: Malnutrition, Micronutrient, Agriculture
Location: Asia

On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), SPRING organized a micronutritent powders (MNP) consultation to provide contextualized operational guidance on MNP...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

According to the 2013 National Nutrition Survey, the prevalence of anemia among young children in the Philippines remains high, but there have been significant declines over the past...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient

This study examined predictors of both initial and repeat micronutrient powder (MNP) coverage by comparing two delivery models piloted in rural Nepal: distributing MNPs by female community...

Keywords: Anemia, Micronutrient
Location: Nepal

Pulses, including all kinds of dried beans and peas, are a cheap and nutritious source of protein and vital micronutrients that can benefit people’s health and livelihoods, particularly in...

Keywords: Micronutrient

Monotonous diets fail to provide sufficient micronutrients. Consequently, dietary diversity is crucial for vulnerable groups, in particular women of reproductive age. This report reviews...

Some 2 billion people suffer from hidden hunger caused by infections and diets lacking in essential micronutrients, such as, vitamin A, iron, and zinc. This two page brief explores how...

This report discusses the growing evidence that micronutrient deficiencies may increase due to climate change. Donors and governments are called to fund climate-adaptation efforts for...

Keywords: Micronutrient

Biofortification is among the highest value-for-money investments for economic development and reducing micronutrient deficiencies. In this webinar, Director of HarvestPlus Dr. Howarth...

This map of countries depicts the status of biofortified crops, which have been conventionally bred for high vitamin A, iron, and zinc content to address nutritional needs.