Sociocultural environmental factors and childhood stunting: qualitative studies – a protocol for the Shared Values theme of the UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub

Benita Chinenye Odii, Marie K Harder, Yanyan Huang, Annabel Chapman, Ndèye Marième Sougou, Risatianti Kolopaking, SubbaRao Gavaravarapu, Amadou H Diallo, Rita Anggorowati, Sylvia Fernandez Rao, Claire Heffernan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Stunting is a significant and growing global problem that is resisting scientific attempts to understand it in terms of direct nutrition-related determinants. In recent years, research included more complex, indirect and multifactorial determinants and expanded to include multisectoral and lifestyle-related approaches. The United Kingdom Research Initiative Global Challenges Research Fund's (UKRI GCRF) Action Against Stunting Hub starts on the premise that dominant factors of stunting may vary between contexts and life phases of the child. Thus, the construction of a typology of clustered factors will be more useful to design effective programmes to alleviate it. The Shared Values theme seeks to build a bottom-up holistic picture of interlinked cultural contextual factors that might contribute to child stunting locally, by first eliciting shared values of the groups closest to the problem and then enquiring about details of their relevant daily activities and practices, to reveal links between the two. We define shared values as what groups consider ‘valuable, worthwhile and meaningful’ to them. Methods and analysis: We will recruit 12–25 local stakeholder groups in each site (in India, Indonesia and Senegal) involved in children’s food and early learning environments, such as mothers, fathers, grandmothers, teachers, market vendors and health workers. The WeValue InSitu process will be used to assist them to collectively elicit, negotiate and self-articulate their own shared values through exploration of shared tacit knowledge. Focus group discussions held immediately subsequently will ask about daily activities relevant to the children’s environment. These contain many examples of cultural contextual factors potentially influencing stunting locally, and intrinsically linked to shared values articulated in the previous session.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere001906
Number of pages6
JournalBMJ Paediatrics Open
Volume8
Issue numberSuppl_1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Feb 2024

Keywords

  • Health services research
  • Qualitative research
  • Growth
  • Data Collection

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