Using the lives saved tool as a decision-making tool for multisectoral nutrition strategic planning for 2020–2024: experience from Burkina Faso

Abstract In the fight against malnutrition, Burkina Faso has developed a Multisectoral Nutrition Strategic Plan (MNSP). This study was conducted to assess the plan’s potential impact on reducing mortality and chronic malnutrition among children under five, using mathematical modeling through the Lives Saved Tool (LiST). Two projections were developed. The first, MNSP, included the strategic plan interventions, namely complementary feeding, age-appropriate breastfeeding practices, and prevention of malaria in pregnancy. The second, MNSP +, included the MNSP interventions, along with additional interventions such as zinc supplementation for children and WASH interventions. The results showed that under-five mortality would decline from 85.4 to 80.6 deaths per 1000 live births under MNSP, and from 85.4 to 73.6 deaths per 1000 live births under MNSP + . The findings also showed that complementary feeding under the MNSP projection would prevent 80% of chronic malnutrition cases, while zinc supplementation under the MNSP + projection would prevent 46% of cases. The projected cost of the interventions modeled in LiST for this study is estimated at $447,431,001 for MNSP and $557,768,209 for MNSP + over the five-year implementation period. Overall, the LiST analysis showed that both MNSP and MNSP + interventions would have a significant impact on chronic malnutrition and under-five mortality in Burkina Faso, with a greater impact observed under MNSP + .