Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of a parenting intervention

Project Summary

Iran has had major success in decreasing childhood malnutrition, with support from its successful primary health care system. However, significant inequality in the prevalence of malnutrition across different provinces remains, with the highest prevalence in the most deprived provinces. There is strong evidence that nutritional and developmental insults in the first few years of life have substantial social and economic implications, contributing to neonatal, infant, and early childhood mortality and morbidity, as well as longer term impacts on cognitive development, school achievement, and worker productivity.

This project has two specific objectives: to develop a parenting intervention to improve early childhood nutrition and stimulation in the deprived provinces in Iran, and to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the designed intervention. Both developing and assessing feasibility and acceptability the intervention will be done using qualitative formative or explorative research, in close consultation with local and national stakeholders.

Key Project Information

Dates: December 2015-November 2016

Principal Investigator: Dr Jolene Skordis, Dr Hassan Haghparast-Bidgoli

Partners: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran

Location: Iran

Funding: The British Academy - International Partnership and Mobility Scheme

Contact: h.haghparast-bidgoli@ucl.ac.uk