Developing a Nutrition System for Early Childhood to Achieve Global Nutrition Targets

Abstract

 The Department of Health is Thailand’s primary agency responsible for sustainable nutrition development, focusing on accelerating efforts to address early childhood malnutrition. This policy research aimed to develop policy recommendations for improving the early childhood nutrition system to achieve global nutrition targets. The objectives are to analyze nutritional status in accordance with global nutrition targets, examine the current early childhood nutrition system, and develop practical policy recommendations. The research was conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1 involved problem identification and data analysis, examining nutritional status against Global Nutrition Targets through eight national surveys and in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders, along with reviewing three years of Department of Health annual reports (2020-2022). Phase 2 analyzed gaps, challenges, and opportunities. Phase 3 developed policy recommendations by reviewing 45 papers and conducting in-depth interviews with six Department of Health executives and nutrition experts. The research found that Thailand has not yet achieved its Global Nutrition Targets, with some pregnant women and young children continuing to engage in unhealthy eating patterns. The review of the early childhood nutrition system identified several system weaknesses, including a lack of strong national strategy and policy implementation, ineffective policy implementation at the local level, inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, research that does not addressing actual problems, surveillance system issues with equipment and staff skills, and ineffective nutrition education approaches in health services. Seven key policy recommendations were developed 1) strengthen policy implementation efficiency 2) develop mechanisms for implementing plans 3) enhance local partnership networks 4) reinforce child health protection laws 5) improve maternal and child health services focusing on nutrition literacy 6) improve surveillance systems and research and 7) modernize personnel development approaches. These policy recommendations will be crucial in guiding the Department of Health’s operations to address early childhood malnutrition in Thailand and achieve Global Nutrition Targets