Women’s nutritional and hygienic knowledge in Madagascar: a qualitative health needs assessment of the Anosy region

Poor nutritional and hygienic practises continue to fuel high morbidity and mortality rates related to malnutrition in Madagascar. This study investigates women’s nutritional and hygienic knowledge in order to characterize health needs in the Anosy region of Madagascar. Here, women govern nutritional and hygienic practises, including meal preparation and child care, and thus are in a position to provide invaluable input in qualifying local needs. Eight focus groups of 13-60 women each were conducted in the seven most impoverished communes of the Anosy, and a qualitative analysis was done. Participants were recruited with the aid of a local NGO, Azafady. An important finding of the study was that women demonstrated a basic understanding of nutrition and hygiene and outlined the need to reduce nutritional and hygienic practise barriers. These findings should be used to prioritize projects and research seeking to improve nutrition and hygiene in the Anosy region.