Description

Abstract: Childhood malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, largely caused by sub-optimal feeding practices and poor diet quality. Deficiencies in micronutrients can lead to poor growth and impaired cognitive performance, among other health problems. Improving diet quality through the consumption of animal source foods (ASF) is one approach to enhance child wellbeing and prevent deficiencies in micronutrients. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Iowa State University and the University of Ghana are utilizing participatory rapid assessments (PRA) to analyze ASF accessibility, availability and utilization in Ghana. Here, we report on the methodology of PRA and describe some of the tools common to this community-focused research approach. Several of the approaches used in this study include, interviews with key informants, wealth ranking, community mapping, focus groups, semi-structured interviewing, food tracking, linkage diagramming through consensus building and group intervention selection. Our experience confirms that PRA helps to facilitate a holistic conceptual framework that includes the perspectives of all stakeholders, leading to a more successful selection and implementation of interventions.