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Knowledge Hub

The Knowledge Hub brings together existing knowledge, guidance, tools, and other useful resources related to women’s nutrition, maternal nutrition, and evidence-based interventions targeting women, such as prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS).

The Knowledge Hub is a dynamic, publicly accessible repository. It will be expanded and further improved over time, and we ask for your help in this. Please share any resources that you believe should be included in this Knowledge Hub, and send them to [email protected].

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  • East Asia and the Pacific
  • Advocacy
  • Guidance document
UNICEF UNICEF Indonesia, Bappenas, Ministry of Health

Framework of Action: Maternal Nutrition in Indonesia

This guidance document provides a framework for action to improve maternal nutrition based on the UNICEF global action framework on improving young children’s diets. The framework illustrates how a woman’s behavior, socio-cultural beliefs, and knowledge, are the central predictors that determine the quality of her diet and health, which are influenced in turn by predictors in five systems – food, health, social protection, education, and WASH. This document highlights the actions that can be taken to modify behavior and the impact of predictors in the five systems.

  • East Asia and the Pacific
  • South Asia
  • Research
  • Report
UNICEF Drummond et al. October 2020

Southeast Asia Regional Report on Maternal Nutrition and Complementary Feeding

This report focuses on renewed efforts to improve maternal nutrition and complementary feeding in six countries of Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam. The report describes the findings of a series of comprehensive landscape analyses on maternal nutrition and complementary feeding that were conducted in each of the six countries during the period of 2018-2019. Data collection methods for the in-country analysis included in-depth desk review, stakeholder mapping, and key informant interviews. Based on these findings and through technical consultations with key stakeholders at the regional and country level, identified priority actions are outlined in this document to improve both maternal nutrition and complementary feeding practices in Southeast Asia.

  • South Asia
  • Research
  • Scientific publication
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Schulze et al. August 2020

Newborn micronutrient status biomarkers in a cluster-randomized trial of antenatal multiple micronutrient compared with iron folic acid supplementation in rural Bangladesh

This double-blinded, cluster-randomized trial compared the effects of antenatal iron-folic acid (IFA) and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) on the micronutrient status of newborns in rural Bangladesh. MMS increased newborn ferritin, 25(OH)D, and zinc, while maternal and newborn folate, vitamins B-12, D, and E, zinc, and iodine biomarkers were positively related. Despite the limited effects of MMS, better maternal micronutrient status was associated with improved micronutrient status of Bangladeshi newborns.

  • East and Southern Africa
  • Policy and policy development
  • Policy brief
Nutrition International April 2020

MMS Policy Brief Malawi: Cost-Effectiveness of Transitioning from Iron and Folic Acid to Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation for Pregnancy

This policy brief outlines the cost-effectiveness and investment case in Malawi, Africa, to transition from iron-folic acid (IFAS) to multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS).

  • Global
  • Advocacy
  • Report
Sight & Life Robert E. Black

Strong Evidence Supports Antenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation

This article outlines the strong evidence that supports multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and argues that implementation should be scaled up rapidly while addressing service delivery barriers.

  • West and Central Africa
  • Research
  • Scientific publication
PLOS MEDICINE Sudfeld et al. May 2022

Evaluation of multiple micronutrient supplementation and medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation in pregnancy on child development in rural Niger: A secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

A  3-arm cluster-randomized trial was conducted that evaluated the efficacy of prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), lipid-based nutrient supplementation (LNS), as compared to routine iron–folic acid (IFA) supplementation among pregnant women in the rural district of Madarounfa, Niger, from March 2015 to August 2019. Results demonstrated that there was no benefit of prenatal MMS on child development outcomes up to 2 years of age as compared to IFA. There was evidence of an apparent positive effect of prenatal LNS on cognitive development trajectory and time to achievement of selected gross motor milestones.

  • Global
  • Research
  • Scientific publication
Maternal and Child Nutrition Garcia-Casal et al. December 2018

Multiple micronutrient supplements in pregnancy: Implementation considerations for integration as part of quality services in routine antenatal care. Objectives, results, and conclusions of the meeting

The World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Nutrition International (NI), convened a technical consultation “Multiple micronutrient supplements in pregnancy: Implementation considerations for successful incorporation into existing programmes.” The objectives of the technical consultation were to (a) examine implementation experiences of micronutrient supplementation interventions in pregnant women, lessons learned, and best practices; (b) discuss programmatic and technical considerations of interventions on multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) in pregnant women in low-, middle-, and high-income countries; and (c) identify implementation considerations that can be useful to scale up efforts by national policymakers and their advisors considering MMS as part of existing antenatal care programs as well as other delivery platforms.  This paper provides the background and rationale of the technical consultation, synopsizes the presentations, and summarizes the primary considerations and conclusions reached during plenary discussions.

  • South Asia
  • Research
  • Scientific publication
British Medical Journal Open Hossain et al., May 2022

Evaluating the impact of a countrywide, market-based roll-out of multiple micronutrient supplementation on low birth weight in Bangladesh: protocol for a two-arm, quasi-experimental and mixed-methods evaluation study

The Social Marketing Company (SMC) in Bangladesh is implementing a countrywide, market-based roll-out of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women. This study evaluated the implementation of the supplementation program and its impact on reducing low birth weight (LBW).

  • Global
  • Advocacy
  • Policy brief
August 2022

FAQ and Advocacy Brief for Inclusion of MMS into the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines – Spanish

 This is an FAQ and Advocacy Brief for the Inclusion of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) into the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines to help improve women’s nutrition during pregnancy.

  • Global
  • Advocacy
  • Guidance document
August 2022

HMHB Frequently Asked Questions on MMS – Spanish

This FAQ brief addresses frequently asked questions on MMS.