Strengthening data availability and linkage for policies and programmes to improve maternal nutrition and the first 1,000 days of life: Country analysis – Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand

Abstract

Background: The multiple burden of malnutrition among children and women is a major nutrition challenge for Southeast Asian countries. Maternal malnutrition remains prevalent, hindering optimal maternal and child health outcomes. This project aimed to better understand situations and challenges and identify policy/programme-relevant data to enhance the efforts to improve maternal nutrition. Methods: Data from large-scale national health, nutrition, and/or food consumption surveys, including key maternal nutrition indicators, relevant policies, and implemented programmes, were compiled from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Lessons learnt and data/information gaps to strengthen policy decisions and programme performances were critically analysed. Results: Indonesia and the Philippines secured high-level policy commitments for the 1,000 Days of Life movement, while Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health implemented the “Miracle of 1,000 Days” policy via its health system. Types and strength of evidence triggering policy decisions differed. Major challenges for all countries included data gathering and complex analyses, which hamper timely decisions. Rapid assessment tools, including digital-based ones, that can collect and analyse action-relevant data/ information in a frontline-orientated, timely, and multi-sectorally relevant manner are needed for actionable policies and programmes. Inclusion of dietary intake data for adolescents, pregnant and lactating women in large-scale surveys, reframing maternal nutrition as central to human capital development, and promoting closer collaboration between researchers and policy/programme planners will help in communication, priority setting, and capacity development. Conclusion: For effective maternal nutrition improvement, fostering the linkage of policy and programme-relevant data will readily avail them for use by frontline and multisectoral stakeholders, as well as policymakers.