Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40953093›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Integrating co-design into formative research for a SBCC entry-point platform for nutrition-sensitive social protection programs in low -and middle-income country settings.

Tahir Turk, Rina Paul, Nilofer Fatimi Safdar, Nadia Shah, Syed Mahbubul Alam, Sohel Reza Choudhury, Kashif Shafique, Zaeema Ahmer, Anthony Wenndt, Hamidullah Khan Babar and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Tahir TurkSchool of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0002-8119-4171
Rina PaulDepartment of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0002-1186-4854
Nilofer Fatimi SafdarSchool of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Nadia ShahSchool of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0002-0377-9561
Syed Mahbubul AlamCenter for Law and Policy Affairs, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Sohel Reza ChoudhuryDepartment of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Kashif ShafiqueSchool of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Zaeema AhmerSchool of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Anthony WenndtGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Washington DC, USA.
Hamidullah Khan BabarGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Washington DC, USA.
Tannaza SadafGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Washington DC, USA.
Moniruzzaman BipulGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Washington DC, USA.ORCID 0009-0006-8636-8915

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAchieving adequate nutrition for vulnerable populations is an objective of the Sustainable Development Goals. Nutrition-sensitive social protection programs, including those that promote nutrition through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), have the potential to reduce malnutrition and provide social supports to those most in need. Country-level needs assessments can clarify key issues. When supported by co-design approaches, program formative research may provide more culturally contextualised SBCC for the improved delivery of nutrition social protection to vulnerable groups. This formative study from Pakistan and Bangladesh, integrated co-design to more fully explore program beneficiary knowledge, attitudes and perceptions toward nutrition social protection to inform the design of SBCC key messages and an entry-point platform to ensure effective message dissemination.

methodsQualitative formative research was conducted to support findings from a systematic review. Thirty semi-structured interviews with program stakeholders and 12 focus group discussions (134 participants) were conducted with program beneficiaries in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Co-design sessions supplemented the needs assessment protocol. A COREQ checklist ensured best practice approaches in research design, analysis and reporting. NVIVO 2023 qualitative software supported the thematic analysis.

resultsFour organising themes were identified: 1. Barriers to Program Engagement, 2. Opportunities for Program Improvement, 3. Knowledge Attitudes and Practices, and 4. Target Groups, Messaging and SBCC Entry-Points, with 21 sub-themes emerging under the four organising themes. Main barriers related to resource constraints and maladministration of SPPs while opportunities identified greater integration of cash transfers with nutritious food provision, increased engagement with key influencers in vulnerable communities, and identification of culturally nuanced messages with dissemination through preferred channels. Integrating co-design sessions provided greater ownership, participation and engagement by program beneficiaries and more pragmatic SBCC solutions to challenges identified.

conclusionThe needs assessments and integrated co-design sessions highlighted the benefits of close consultation with program beneficiaries in the design of culturally appropriate SBCC interventions to support nutrition-sensitive social protection programs. A SBCC entry-point platform was developed from participant recommendations to provide options for programmers on message designs, advocacy approaches and dissemination channels with the approaches applicable for a number of low -and middle-income countries where malnutrition is a major challenge.

Indexed as

MalnutritionAdultBangladeshDeveloping CountriesFemaleFocus GroupsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleNutritional StatusPakistanQualitative ResearchResearch DesignVulnerable Populations

Identifiers

PMID40953093
PMCPMC12435663

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.