Outcomes of an evidence-based training program for primary care personnel on the management of maternal and child malnutrition in Guanajuato, Mexico

Introduction: in Mexico, the health system faces a significant challenge in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of maternal and child malnutrition. Addressing this issue requires highly trained human resources at the primary care level, equipped with the necessary skills and tools for effective intervention. Objective: to design and pilot an evidence-based training program aimed at health care providers (HPs) to improve their knowledge regarding the management of maternal and child malnutrition (MCM) in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Methods: the training program was developed with a focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of MCM, incorporating a life-course, equity, and gender perspective. A pilot test of the training was conducted with primary care providers from one health jurisdiction of the Guanajuato State Ministry of Health, including physicians, nurses, and nutritionists. To assess changes in knowledge levels, a standardized questionnaire was administered before and after the training. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore participants' perceptions and satisfaction with the training. Results: the training contributed to a significant improvement in the knowledge levels of all healthcare providers, with an average increase of 3.6 percentage points (PP) (p < 0.05). The greatest increases were observed among nursing staff (4.19 PP), providers from rural units (3.93 PP), and those with more than 10 years of service in the institution (4.12 PP). Participants emphasized the importance of including medical and nursing personnel in the training and identified the life-course approach to addressing malnutrition in the mother-child dyad as an innovative element. Conclusions: this pilot study demonstrated that implementing a structured training program can improve knowledge levels regarding the management of various forms of maternal and child malnutrition among primary health care providers in Guanajuato. The application of the acquired knowledge and skills in clinical practice is expected to contribute to improvements in the quality of nutritional care.