AID grant no. 517-0000-G-SS-0335-00 to CARE Dominicana to support operational research activities to validate a new program approach to improve food use within health and nutrition programming

Two studies will be conducted. The first will take place at 30 rural maternal/child feeding centers in Region IV, where malnutrition is most severe. The centers will be divided into two groups and different rations will be delivered to beneficiaries. Results will be evaluated through monitoring of child growth and of household consumption habits over a 12-month period. The second study will be conducted in 10 nutritional recuperation centers for severely malnourished children, also in Region IV. A sample of 50 children will be randomly selected and studied over a 6-month period to identify common risk factors that can be used in targeting preventive food supplements to families with children at risk.