Professor Robert Darko Osei, the Research Project Lead of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), has emphasized the importance of utilizing digital communication technologies to combat malnutrition in rural areas.
Speaking at a stakeholder’s engagement workshop on the research project titled “Using Digital Communication to Reinforce Nutrition and Household Resilience in Northern Ghana,” Professor Osei highlighted the potential of digital communication in influencing positive nutrition behavior among impoverished households.
The three-year research project, conducted in four Northern Regions, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communication in educating rural communities about nutrition and health practices. Led by ISSER at the University of Ghana, Legon, the project was part of a collaborative research grant program funded by USAID and the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED).
One key aspect of the research project involved using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) messages to disseminate nutrition and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) educational content to rural households. After conducting extensive fieldwork in 232 rural communities across the northern regions, the project yielded policy-relevant results that underscored the ongoing challenge of malnutrition in the region.
According to Dr. Charles Yaw Okyere, a member of the project team, the research found alarming rates of stunting, wasting, and poor food consumption scores among households. These factors not only impact nutritional outcomes but also have a significant influence on child educational outcomes, particularly in the Northern regions of Ghana.
Dr. Fidela Dake, another team member, reported positive impacts on nutrition outcomes and self-reported health among beneficiary households following the implementation of IVR messages. These messages have successfully altered perceptions about nutrition and WASH practices, with more households now adopting essential health behaviors such as handwashing and boiling water before consumption.
Stakeholders have been urged to prioritize nutrition education in local languages to enhance health-related knowledge and practices in rural areas. As nutrition, health, and sanitation play vital roles in addressing inequality, poverty, and deprivation, it is crucial for all stakeholders to support initiatives that leverage digital communication technologies to improve nutrition outcomes and household resilience in Northern Ghana.
