Join us on October 29th from 11AM - 12PM MMT for this webinar - Register here.
Maternal and child well-being in Myanmar is shaped by intertwined nutritional, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. This presentation draws on recent evidence to examine how maternal food avoidance practices and household conditions influence early childhood development. Findings show that food taboos during breastfeeding significantly reduce maternal dietary diversity, posing risks of micronutrient deficiencies for both mothers and infants. At the same time, disparities in early childhood development reflect the combined effects of food insecurity, poverty, maternal mental health, and limited paternal engagement. Together, these studies underscore the need for culturally sensitive nutrition counseling that engages families and community networks, alongside targeted interventions to expand access to early childhood learning, strengthen parental support systems, address maternal depression, and promote more equitable caregiving roles.
Presenters:
Derek Headey, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute
Salauddin Tauseef, Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute
Discussant:
Soe Nyi Nyi, Managing Director and Co-founder, Healthy and Happy Families Ltd.
Moderator:
Ian Masias, Myanmar Deputy Team Leader, International Food Policy Research Institute
The presentation will be followed by a short Q&A session.