11.3.2 Integrating the seven ENAs into the six health contacts
You will have six health contacts with mothers and children in your community. Nutrition behaviour change communication and promoting the seven essential nutrition actions will be an important element within these six health contacts. Table 11.3 overleaf outlines what the six health contacts are, and the key nutrition action messages you need to communicate at each contact.
Table 11.3 Delivery of the key essential nutrition action messages. (Source: Linkages project/AED Ethiopia, 2005, Behavioural change communication manual)
When does breastfeeding appear as a key message within the seven ENAs a key message and why is it so important?
Breast feeding is included in four of the key messages, namely optimal breastfeeding, optimal complementary feeding, sick child feeding and control of vitamin A deficiency. You know from this and earlier study sessions that breastfeeding is critical for promoting healthy growth in infants, helping prevent disease and encourage bonding between the mother and baby.
Nutrition BCC on ENA components can also be given as part of other health programme contacts including child survival interventions (such as community IMNCI and community nutrition programmes), national immunization days and other infectious diseases control programmes.
11.3.1 The focus of community-based nutrition behaviour change communication