Changes in the life of Poshan Sakhis.

Women’s empowerment is fundamental for realizing unalienable human rights and is vital to sustainable development outcomes. In India, the SWABHIMAAN intervention program was an integrated multi-sectoral strategy to improve girls’ and women’s nutrition before conception, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. This study assesses the role of self-help-group (SHGs) in improving the effectiveness of community health interventions and its impact on their self-empowerment. Qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews (IDI) with community-based SHG members involved as Nutrition Friend (Poshan Sakhi-PS) in the SWABHIMAAN program in 2018 was used for analysis. Informed consent procedures were followed, and only those who voluntarily consented to the interview were interviewed. Twenty-five IDIs of purposively selected PSs in three states (Bihar, n = 9; Chhattisgarh, n = 8; and Odisha, n = 8) were analyzed thematically, according to Braun & Clarke (2006). NVivo 12 software was used for organizing and coding data. Three central themes that emerged to explain women’s empowerment were (1) Barriers & redressal mechanisms adopted by PS, (2) PS as a change-maker, and (3) Changes in the life of PS. The study found that women perceive themselves as more empowered through involvement in the SWABHIMAN intervention program, besides improving the community’s and their households’ nutritional status. The results suggest that policies and programs on health and nutrition interventions need to involve peer women from the community, leading to more effective outcomes. Empowering women and closing gender gaps in employment/work are critical to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.</div

Barriers & redressal mechanism adopted by Poshan Sakhis.

Barriers & redressal mechanism adopted by Poshan Sakhis.</p

Key themes emerged from the in-depth interview of the Poshan Sakhis.

Key themes emerged from the in-depth interview of the Poshan Sakhis.</p

Poshan Sakhis as a change-maker in the community.

Women’s empowerment is fundamental for realizing unalienable human rights and is vital to sustainable development outcomes. In India, the SWABHIMAAN intervention program was an integrated multi-sectoral strategy to improve girls’ and women’s nutrition before conception, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. This study assesses the role of self-help-group (SHGs) in improving the effectiveness of community health interventions and its impact on their self-empowerment. Qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews (IDI) with community-based SHG members involved as Nutrition Friend (Poshan Sakhi-PS) in the SWABHIMAAN program in 2018 was used for analysis. Informed consent procedures were followed, and only those who voluntarily consented to the interview were interviewed. Twenty-five IDIs of purposively selected PSs in three states (Bihar, n = 9; Chhattisgarh, n = 8; and Odisha, n = 8) were analyzed thematically, according to Braun & Clarke (2006). NVivo 12 software was used for organizing and coding data. Three central themes that emerged to explain women’s empowerment were (1) Barriers & redressal mechanisms adopted by PS, (2) PS as a change-maker, and (3) Changes in the life of PS. The study found that women perceive themselves as more empowered through involvement in the SWABHIMAN intervention program, besides improving the community’s and their households’ nutritional status. The results suggest that policies and programs on health and nutrition interventions need to involve peer women from the community, leading to more effective outcomes. Empowering women and closing gender gaps in employment/work are critical to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.</div

Mind map of women empowerment through involvement in the study.

Mind map of women empowerment through involvement in the study.</p

Prevalence Iron, Folate and Vitamin B12 deficiency based on gender and anemia status among the children aged 12 to 59 months in India from Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey, 2016–2018.

[Note: Iron deficiency: serum ferritin 5ng/ml), folate deficiency: erythrocyte folate: <151 ng/mL, Vitamin B12 deficiency: serum cyanocobalamin <203 pg/mL].</p

Characteristics of children aged 12–59 months in India from Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey with anemia and anemia with micronutrient deficiencies, 2016–2018.

Characteristics of children aged 12–59 months in India from Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey with anemia and anemia with micronutrient deficiencies, 2016–2018.</p

Fig 2 -

Prevalence of anemia (a) and anemia with micronutrient deficiencies (b) among children aged 12–59 months across 30 states in India from Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey, 2016–2018. [Note: Anemia—Hemoglobin 5ng/ml), folate deficiency: erythrocyte folate: https://diva-gis.org/download which is free and open source. Software used to create Fig 2, QGIS (previously known as Quantum GIS), is a free and open source cross platform desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that supports viewing, editing and analysis of geospatial data].</p

STROBE statement—checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.

STROBE statement—checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.</p

Factors associated with anemia and anemia with micronutrient deficiencies among children aged 12–59 months in India from Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey, 2016–2018.

Factors associated with anemia and anemia with micronutrient deficiencies among children aged 12–59 months in India from Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey, 2016–2018.</p