%0 Journal Article
%T Effectiveness of health promotion regarding diet and physical activity among Nepalese mothers and their young children: The Heart-health Associated Research, Dissemination, and Intervention in the Community (HARDIC) trial
%A Abhinav Vaidya
%A Alex
%A Gabriele Eiben
%A Natalia Oli
%A ra Krettek
%J Global Health Action
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2019.1670033
%X ABSTRACT Background: Nepal, like many low- and middle-income countries, exhibits rising burden of cardiovascular diseases. Misconceptions, poor behavior, and a high prevalence of risk factors contribute to this development. Health promotion efforts along with primary prevention strategies, including risk factor reduction in both adults and children, are therefore critical. Objectives: This study assessed the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention on mothers¡¯ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and their children¡¯s behavior regarding diet and physical activity. Methods: The Heart-health Associated Research, Dissemination and Intervention in the Community (HARDIC), a community-based trial, used peer education to target mothers with 1¨C9-year-old children in the peri-urban Jhaukhel¨CDuwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site, Nepal, during August¨CNovember 2016. In the intervention area, 47 peer mothers were trained to conduct four education classes for about 10 fellow mothers (N = 391). After 3 months, all eligible mothers in the intervention and control areas were interviewed and the results were compared with the KAP of all eligible mothers at baseline. Results: Post-intervention, mothers¡¯ KAP median scores had improved regarding heart-healthy diet and physical activity. More mothers had ¡®good¡¯ KAP (>75% of maximum possible scores), and mothers with ¡®good¡¯ knowledge increased from 50% to 81%. Corresponding control values increased only from 58% to 63%. Mothers¡¯ attitude and practice improved. Additionally, mothers in the intervention area reported improvement in their children¡¯s diet and physical activity behavior. Moreover, Difference in Differences analysis showed that the HARDIC intervention significantly increased mothers¡¯ KAP scores and children¡¯s behavior scores in the intervention area compared to the control area. Conclusions: Our intervention improves KAP scores regarding diet and physical activity and shows potential for expansion via community health workers, volunteers, and/or local women. Moreover, HARDIC can contribute to Nepal¡¯s Package of Essential Noncommunicable Diseases Initiative, which currently lacks a specific package for health promotion
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2019.1670033