Background: Save the Children Federation/US uses a positive deviance approach to reduce severe childhood malnutrition in Vietnam. Project impact studies have confirmed improvement in nutritional status and caregiver practices, but none has explored how the intervention affects the health volunteers. The focus of this study was to identify such changes and to explore how and if they are associated with empowerment in a rural Vietnamese context. Methodology: This study was a qualitative assessment of changes that occurred in the lives of health volunteers from two intervention communes in northern Vietnam. Results were compared with those from community volunteers in a comparison commune. In semi-structured interviews volunteers were asked about changes in relationships with community members, confidence, household decision-making, health and time allocation. Interviews were conducted with the assistance of a Vietnamese sociologist. Text was analyzed using Excel and Word. Results: Most health volunteers expressed changes in confidence: "Now I feel more confident to better understand about the program, how to take care and feed children. I also feel more confident when I work in other [community programs]." Health volunteers also felt greater happiness, and closeness with community members: "Before I wondered if I could help the community or not with my ability but now when I see children gain weight and mothers very enthusiastic, I feel very happy." Results were similar for community volunteers in the comparison commune. The extent to which these changes were empowering will be discussed in the context of the intervention, Vietnam and prevailing empowerment theories.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to describe changes associated with empowerment in the lives of health volunteers involved in a positive-deviance based, child nutrition intervention in rural Vietnam.
Keywords: International MCH,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.