The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Assessment of the nutritional impact of the complementary feeding program of Panama in children under five years old

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De Caballero, E., O. Sinisterra, et al. (2004). "Assessment of the nutritional impact of the complementary feeding program of Panama in children under five years old." Evaluación del impacto nutricional del programa de alimentación complementaria de Panamá en niños menores de 5 años 54(1): 66-71.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional impact of the Complementary Feeding Program of Panama in children under 5 years old.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of children beneficiaries of the program was studied and compared with others of the same age and districts not involved in this intervention. Weight for age (W-A), height for age (H-A), and weight for height (W-H) was calculated in each control and the nutritional status determined according to Ministry of Health norms. Every beneficiary received six pounds/month of a food supplement containing cereals, legumes, calcium, iron and vitamin A (350 Kcal and 12 g of protein by 100 grams). Most of the children enter into the program in their second year of life with an average W-A and W-H of -1.5 ± 1.2 and -0.6 ± 0.9 respectively; both indicators were declining before the intervention (-0.6 ± 1.2 y -0.3 ± 1.3 respectively, p < 0.01).

Results: In 9 months of intervention an average change in W-A of 0.0 ± 1.1 and H-A of -0.1 ± 1.1 was observed (NS). Weight gain was higher in children with lower W-A, in families with less children or mother with better education level (p < 0.05). In 35% of malnourished children and 24% of children at risk nutritional status improved during the intervention. Children with higher nutritional deficit at the beginning of the program have significantly better nutritional improvement (p < 0.001), encouraging the importance on focusing this program in malnourished children.