Multisectoral Nutrition Interventions and Their Impact on Pregnancy Weight Gain and Low Birth Weight: An Open Experiment in Two Remote Blocks of Karnataka, India

The Karnataka Multisectoral Nutrition Pilot Project, (KMNPP), 2015–2018, was implemented in Devadurga Block, Raichur District and Chincholli Block, Gulbarga District, two most backward Blocks in Karnataka. Special interventions for behaviour change and appropriate dietary supplementation for pregnant women were implemented through an inter-sectoral, intergenerational strategy. This article analyses real-time data that emerged from the project regarding pregnancy weight gain, the weight of newborns at birth and incidence of low birth weight (LBW), and the inter-relationship between these three indicators. Data indicates that KMNPP interventions resulted in a significant increase in mean pregnancy weight gain from 2.452 kg at baseline to 4.058 kg at end-line. Incidence of LBW declined highly significantly from 34.3% to 25.8% from baseline to end line and the mean birthweight of newborns increased significantly from 2.599 kg to 2.695 kg. Data provides strong evidence of a direct correlation between increased maternal pregnancy weight gain, a decrease in per cent LBW and a corresponding increase in mean birth weight of newborns, as the project interventions progressed. This article also provides strong evidence that simple KMNPP interventions addressing pregnancy nutritional care including appropriate dietary supplementation and behaviour change can be replicated in any chronic undernutrition areas to improve pregnancy weight gain, increase birth weight and reduce the incidence of low birth weight.