Leveraging culinary nutrition interventions and contextual factors to combat child growth failure in mining communities for maximum impact

Summary: Background and aims: A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of culinary nutrition interventions; however, there is limited research on the analytical techniques, components, and the combined impact of these interventions alongside contextual factors in addressing child growth failure. This paper examines the combined effect of culinary nutrition interventions and contextual factors in reducing child growth failure within mining communities. Methods and materials: This study employed a cross-sectional design, targeting children under the age of five and their caregivers. A total of 706 participants were included, selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, direct child measurements, and structured interviews. Anthropometric data were analysed using the WHO growth standards. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics and logistic regression, with an emphasis on examining interaction effects. Results: The results revealed that 34.7% of the children experienced growth failure while 55% of the caregivers participated in culinary nutrition programs. Children whose caregivers participated in culinary programs had significantly lower odds of experiencing growth failure (OR = 0.69∗∗, P = 0.019, 95% CI). Factorial analysis demonstrated that the impact of culinary interventions on reducing child growth failure was more pronounced in households with adequate food (OR = 0.46∗, P = 0.085, 90% CI), households with vegetable gardens (OR = 0.50∗∗, P = 0.005, 95% CI), children with a good appetite (OR = 0.44∗∗, P = 0.032, 95% CI), households practicing food preservation (OR = 0.52∗, P = 0.054, 90% CI), and those producing their own food (OR = 0.46∗∗, P = 0.016, 95% CI). Conclusion: The findings highlight the synergistic impact of culinary nutrition interventions alongside key factors in addressing child growth failure, particularly in mining communities. It emphasizes the importance of integrating both nutritional programs and the social environment to effectively combat child malnutrition and stunting in these vulnerable populations.