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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Lilia Bliznashka

Lily Bliznashka is a Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. Her research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of multi-input nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions and the mechanisms through which they work to improve maternal and child health and nutrition globally. She has worked in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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Elodie Becquey

Senior Research Fellow

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Bio

Elodie Becquey is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, based in the West and Central Africa office in Senegal. She has over 15 years of research experience in diet, nutrition, and food security in Africa. At IFPRI since 2013, she has conducted impact evaluation and implementation research on various nutrition and nutrition-sensitive programs in Africa. This work includes several evaluations of integrated interventions to prevent, detect, and/or treat child wasting, evaluation of a poultry value chain intervention, and evaluation of homestead food production. An expert on diet data analysis, she also studies the association between the healthiness of diets and engagement with the food environment in African contexts. She has experience working on populations of young children, school-age children, adolescents, and women of reproductive age in Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania. Before joining IFPRI, Elodie was a Postdoctoral Fellow with Helen Keller International and the University of California, Davis, and a PhD candidate at the French Institute of Research for Sustainable Development. Elodie obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the Pierre et Marie Curie Paris-6 University.

Languages: French, English

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Publications

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

The impact of a continuum of care intervention from prevention to treatment on child wasting compared to usual community group activities: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Mali

2026Huybregts, Lieven; Diop, Loty; Fall, Talla; Barba, Francisco; Brander, Rebecca L.; Touré, Mariama; Ouedraogo, Moctar; Hien, Alain; Becquey, Elodie
Details

The impact of a continuum of care intervention from prevention to treatment on child wasting compared to usual community group activities: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Mali

Background Child wasting is associated with a high mortality risk and remains a persistent public health challenge. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an intervention strengthening the continuum of care of child wasting from prevention, screening, and referral to treatment in Mali. Methods A two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted using two study designs to evaluate impact and pathways: i) a longitudinal study of children enrolled at 6 months (n=2,324) with monthly follow-up for 3–6 months to assess wasting prevalence (primary outcome); ii) a longitudinal study of all children 6–23 months admitted to outpatient therapeutic programs (OTP; n=7,104) assessing recovery and adherence. Additional OTP coverage surveys were conducted at the end of the study. In both study arms, nutrition activity support groups (NASG) screened children for wasting and provided caregiver behavior change communication (BCC). The intervention arm additionally received small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS), child-centered BCC, family-led screening, and follow-up on referred wasting cases to support OTP admission and adherence. Results The intervention did not impact wasting prevalence but reduced the incidence of wasting (relative risk (RR): 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64, 0.99) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) (RR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.57, 0.89). The intervention significantly increased wasting screening coverage by 37 pp (95%CI: 31, 44) and SAM treatment coverage by 15 pp (95%CI: 0.35, 30). No impacts of the intervention on OTP recovery or adherence were found. NASGs often replaced the monthly home visits with community gatherings to deliver the intervention. NASGs also often distributed SQ-LNS to children they identified with wasting instead of referring them to the OTP. Conclusions Strengthening the continuum of care of wasting through community groups reduced the incidence of wasting and SAM and improved screening coverage, which translated into a modest gain in SAM treatment coverage.

Year published

2026

Authors

Huybregts, Lieven; Diop, Loty; Fall, Talla; Barba, Francisco; Brander, Rebecca L.; Touré, Mariama; Ouedraogo, Moctar; Hien, Alain; Becquey, Elodie

Citation

Huybregts, Lieven; Diop, Loty; Fall, Talla; Barba, Francisco; Brander, Rebecca L.; et al. The impact of a continuum of care intervention from prevention to treatment on child wasting compared to usual community group activities: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Mali. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Article in Press. First published online on 25 March 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101294

Country/Region

Mali

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Capacity Building; Child Wasting; Disease Prevention; Disease Management; Randomized Controlled Trials; Food Supplements; Integrated Disease Management; Interventions; Screening

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101294 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Adding small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements to an enhanced homestead food production program improves child hemoglobin, iron and vitamin A status in rural Burkina Faso: A cluster randomized controlled trial

2026Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Nordhagen, Stella; Olney, Deanna K.
Details

Adding small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements to an enhanced homestead food production program improves child hemoglobin, iron and vitamin A status in rural Burkina Faso: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Background Enhanced homestead food production programs (EHFP) including nutrition behavior change communication and women’s empowerment activities have limited impacts on child nutrition. This may be due to short program duration or the absence of interventions to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and access to nutritious foods. Objective We assessed impacts on child anemia, micronutrient status and anthropometry of prior village exposure to an EHFP, and of adding WASH alone or WASH with daily small quantity-lipid based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS). Design This 2y longitudinal cluster-randomized controlled trial (2014-2016) included 60 villages in Burkina Faso randomized to four groups (15 per group): (1) EHFP-2014, (2) EHFP-2014+WASH, (3) EHFP-2010+WASH, and (4) EHFP-2010+WASH+SQ-LNS. Groups 3 and 4 had previously received EHFP (2010-2012). We assessed impacts on child anemia and micronutrient status (n=1,704; 3-12.9 mo at baseline) and anthropometry (n=2,308; 0-12.9 mo at baseline) using difference-in-difference (DID) specifications. We controlled for covariates, adjusted for clustering, and assessed interactive effects by child age at baseline. The trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02236468). Results We found no impact of prior exposure to EHFP (groups 2 vs 3) on the outcomes examined. Adding WASH (groups 1 vs 2) reduced anemia (hemoglobin (Hb)<11 g/dL) (DID=9.43 pp, p<0.01) and led to a decline in weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) (DID -0.11±0.04, p=0.01). Adding SQ-LNS (groups 3 vs 4) increased Hb (DID=0.26±0.13 g/dL, p<0.05), plasma ferritin (DID=7.61±2.69 μg/L, p<0.01), and retinol binding protein (DID=0.07±0.02 umol/L, p<0.01) concentrations. Effects were larger in children <6 mo at baseline, where providing SQ-LNS (>6 mo) positively impacted Hb, plasma ferritin, height-for-age Z-score, WAZ, and underweight. Conclusions Using EHFP to deliver WASH and SQ-LNS reduced child anemia and improved micronutrient status. Anthropometric improvements were found in children who joined the program before 6 mo of age and were exposed for the whole complementary feeding period.

Year published

2026

Authors

Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Nordhagen, Stella; Olney, Deanna K.

Citation

Bliznashka, Lilia; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Nordhagen, Stella; and Olney, Deanna K. Adding small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements to an enhanced homestead food production program improves child hemoglobin, iron and vitamin A status in rural Burkina Faso: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nutrition. Article in press. First published online on 1 April 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101519

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Western Africa; Capacity Building; Lipids; Supplements; Food Production; Children; Child Nutrition; Haemoglobin; Iron; Retinol; Randomized Controlled Trials

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101519 Source record

Project

Agriculture for Nutrition and Health

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Preventing relapse from wasting: the role of sociodemographic, child feeding, and health care determinants and of wasting prevention interventions in Burkina Faso and Mali

2025Brander, Rebecca L.; Touré, Mariama; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Leroy, Jef L.; Huybregts, Lieven
Details

Preventing relapse from wasting: the role of sociodemographic, child feeding, and health care determinants and of wasting prevention interventions in Burkina Faso and Mali

Background Relapse among children treated for wasting is a major concern. We estimated the frequency and determinants of relapse to wasting in two populations exposed to PROMIS, an integrated wasting prevention and screening program. Methods Using longitudinal data from PROMIS trials in Burkina Faso and Mali, we calculated the incidence rate and period prevalence of relapse to wasting within 6 months in children who had ≥1 wasting episode ending when they were ≥6 months old for which they were treated and recovered (NBurkina Faso=247; NMali=220). We used backward elimination to select a multivariable model of sociodemographic, nutrition- and health-related determinants of relapse. We also evaluated if prevention interventions (behavior change communication (BCC) and/or small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) were associated with relapse, adjusting for confounders and trial arm. Results Relapse incidence was 2.6 per child-year in Burkina Faso (N=291 episodes) and 1.6 per child-year in Mali (N=300 episodes). In both countries, being fed the recommended food frequency or iron-rich foods after recovering from wasting was associated with lower risk of relapse. In Mali, longer wasting episodes, lack of minimally diverse diet consumption, and several caregiver/household characteristics were associated with lower risk of relapse. In both countries, receipt of BCC after recovery from wasting was associated with lower risk of relapse (Incidence rate ratio [IRR]Burkina Faso = 0.51 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30, 0.86]; IRRMali = 0.26 [95% CI = 0.11, 0.65]), as was receipt of SQ-LNS (IRRBurkina Faso = 0.33 [95% CI = 0.16, 0.70]; (IRRMali = 0.43 [95% CI = 0.19, 0.94]), after adjustments. Conclusion Children being discharged from wasting treatment are a well-defined vulnerable population who stand to benefit from targeted post-discharge preventive interventions. BCC that includes advice on optimal infant and young child feeding practices and SQ-LNS may help prevent wasting relapse in at-risk children.

Year published

2025

Authors

Brander, Rebecca L.; Touré, Mariama; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Leroy, Jef L.; Huybregts, Lieven

Citation

Brander, Rebecca L.; Toure, Mariama; Becquey, Elodie; Ruel, Marie T.; Leroy, Jef L.; and Huybregts, Lieven. 2025. Preventing relapse from wasting: the role of sociodemographic, child feeding, and health care determinants and of wasting prevention interventions in Burkina Faso and Mali. Journal of Nutrition 155(9): 2945-2954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.06.019

Country/Region

Burkina Faso; Mali

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Northern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Child Feeding; Nutrition; Recuperation; Wasting Disease (nutritional Disorder)

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.06.019 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Events

Beyond Treatment: Integrated Strategies to Prevent Child Wasting and post-treatment Relapse
IFPRI Program/Country Event

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April 1, 2026, 9:00 – 10:30 am

Beyond Treatment: Integrated Strategies to Prevent Child Wasting and post-treatment Relapse

Child wasting affects an estimated 42 million children at any given time, but over a year, between 240 and 295 million episodes of wasting occur.  Wasting, including severe wasting, is associated with approximately 850,000 child deaths annually and have livelong consequences for child health and development. Although effective outpatient treatment protocols exist, coverage remains below 30% […]

Confronting the Crisis of Child Wasting: Translating Evidence into Action and Policy
IFPRI at External Event

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January 27, 2026, 11:00 – 5:00 pm

Confronting the Crisis of Child Wasting: Translating Evidence into Action and Policy

The livestream will be available on this page on January 27, 2026 at 11:00am – 1:00pm CET / 5:00am – 7:00am EST. Please type your questions into the chat box for the Q&A session. Hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), this exchange will bring together global and country partners, technical experts and […]

Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 Summit
IFPRI at External Event

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August 31 to September 5, 2025

Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 Summit

The Africa Food Systems Forum will host its annual summit in Dakar, Senegal, from August 31 to September 5, 2025. Africa’s Food Systems Forum, formerly AGRF, is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. Africa […]

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News

April 08, 2026 | Press Release

Integrating nutrient supplements and WASH into agriculture programs improves child micronutrient status in Burkina Faso

New IFPRI-led research finds that adding nutrient supplements and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions into gender-sensitive agriculture programs can significantly improve young children’s iron and vitamin A status, especially when support starts at 6 months of age and covers the whole complementary feeding period until 23 months of age.