Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition Research Network: A Home Garden Intervention Improves Child Length-for-Age Z-Score and Household-Level Crop Count and Nutritional Functional Diversity in Rural Guatemala

Authors

Andrea Guzmán-Abril, Wuqu' Kawoq, Alianza Maya Para la Salud, Tecpán, Guatemala
Stephen Alajajian, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Chicago, IL
Peter Rohloff, Wuqu' Kawoq, Alianza Maya Para la Salud, Tecpán, Guatemala
Gabriela V. Proaño, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL
Jennifer Brewer, Global Member Interest Group, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Yakes Jimenez, Nutrition Research Network, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and research associate professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine and College of Population Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Abstract

Home gardens may help address childhood malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. In this quasi-experimental pilot study, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, in collaboration with Maya Health Alliance, evaluated the feasibility of augmenting a standard-of-care nutrition-specific package for Maya children with length-for-age z score ≤-2 (stunting) in rural Guatemala with a nutrition-sensitive home garden intervention. Two agrarian municipalities in Guatemala were included. Families of 70 children with stunting from 1 municipality received the standard-of-care package (food supplementation, multiple micronutrient powders, monthly nutrition home visits, group nutrition classes). Families of 70 children with stunting from another municipality received the standard-of-care package plus a home garden intervention (garden materials, monthly agricultural home visits, agriculture classes). Maternal and child dietary diversity, household food insecurity, child growth, and agricultural indicators were collected at baseline and 6 months later and were analyzed using mixed linear and logistic regression models. Compared with the standard-of-care group, the garden intervention group had improved child (odds ratio [OR] 3.66, 95% CI 0.89-15.10, P = 0.07) and maternal dietary diversity (OR 2.31, 95% CI 0.80-6.65, P = 0.12) and decreased food insecurity (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.11-1.35, P = 0.14); however, these effects were not statistically significant. Participation in gardens predicted a higher length-for-age z-score (change difference [CD] 0.22 SD, 95% CI 0.05-0.38, P = 0.009), greater crop species count (CD 2.97 crops, 95% CI 1.79-4.16, P < 0.001), and greater nutritional functional diversity (CD 0.04 points, 95% CI 0.01-0.07, P = 0.006) than standard-of-care alone. Home garden interventions are feasible in rural Guatemala and may have potential benefits for child growth when added to other nutrition-specific interventions.

Publication Title

J Acad Nutr Diet

ISSN

2212-2672

Volume

122

Issue

3

First Page

640

Last Page

649

DOI

10.1016/j.jand.2021.04.002

Recommended Citation

Guzmán-Abril A, Alajajian S, Rohloff P, Proaño GV, Brewer J, Jimenez EY. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition Research Network: A Home Garden Intervention Improves Child Length-for-Age Z-Score and Household-Level Crop Count and Nutritional Functional Diversity in Rural Guatemala. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2022 Mar;122(3):640-649.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.04.002. Epub 2021 May 18. PMID: 34020932.