@article{01GQWVQ1DJ3J67TE3RDB66VZR1,
  abstract     = {{Background

In Ethiopia, poor infant and young child feeding practices and low household dietary diversity remain widespread. The Government has adopted the National Nutrition Programme that emphasizes the need for multi-sectoral collaboration to effectively deliver nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions. The Sustainable Undernutrition Reduction in Ethiopia (SURE) programme is one such Government-led initiative that will be implemented jointly by the health and agriculture sectors across 150 districts in Ethiopia. Prior to the design of the SURE programme, this formative research study was conducted to understand how the governance structure and linkages between health and agriculture sectors at local levels can support implementation of programme activities.
Methods

Data were collected from eight districts in Ethiopia using 16 key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted with district and community-level focal persons for nutrition including health and agriculture extension workers. A framework analysis approach was used to analyze data.
Results

Few respondents were aware of the National Nutrition Programme or of their own roles within the multi-sectoral coordination mechanism outlined by the government to deliver nutritional programmes and services. Lack of knowledge or commitment to nutrition, lack of resources and presence of competing priorities within individual sectors were identified as barriers to effective coordination between health and agriculture sectors. Strong central commitment to nutrition, increased involvement of other partners in nutrition and the presence of community development workers such as health and agriculture extension workers were identified as facilitators of effective coordination.
Conclusions

Federal guidelines to implement the Ethiopian National Nutrition Programme have yet to be translated to district or community level administrative structures. Sustained political commitment and provision of resources will be necessary to achieve effective inter-sectoral collaboration to deliver nutritional services. The health and agriculture extension platforms may be used to link interventions for sustained nutrition impact.}},
  articleno    = {{69}},
  author       = {{Mersha, Girmay Ayana and Hailu, Tesfaye and Kuche, Desalegn and Abera, Andinet and Eshetu, Solomon and Petros, Alemnesh and Kebede, Aweke and Tessema, Masresha and Allen, Cami M. and Salasibew, Mihretab M. and Dangour, Alan D.}},
  issn         = {{2055-0928}},
  journal      = {{BMC NUTRITION}},
  keywords     = {{Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Nutrition and Dietetics,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,Medicine (miscellaneous)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{7}},
  title        = {{Linkages between health and agriculture sectors in Ethiopia : a formative research study exploring barriers, facilitators and opportunities for local level coordination to deliver nutritional programmes and services}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-017-0189-4}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}

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