Effect of Social and Behavioral Change Communication Combined with Egg Production Intervention on Maternal Dietary Diversity: A Pilot Study in Ethiopia.

This article focuses on evaluating the association of a combined Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) strategy and an egg production intervention, implemented through the Market-based Innovation for Nutrition in Ethiopia (MINE) project's Egg Hub model, on the dietary diversity, knowledge, and attitudes of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in Bishoftu and East Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. Over four survey rounds involving over 1,900 PLW, the intervention was linked to a significant increase in the proportion of women meeting the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) from 29.9% to 71.3%, alongside improvements in maternal nutritional knowledge and favorable attitudes toward feeding recommendations. The Egg Hub model enhanced local egg production and market access, while SBCC activities addressed misconceptions and promoted dietary diversity, suggesting that the integrated approach effectively improved maternal nutrition. The study recommends scaling up this combined intervention across Ethiopia to assess its broader applicability and impact.