Positive Deviance/Hearth

What is this approach?

Positive Deviance/Hearth (PD/Hearth) focuses on communities where 30% or more of young children are moderately and severely malnourished as measured by low weight-for-age (underweight). Beneficial practices by mothers or caregivers of well-nourished children from impoverished families (positive deviants) are carefully studied, so lessons can be learned from their practices. A hearth facilitator forms a committee to mobilise local partners and the community, and trains volunteers.  Two weeks of practical home-based nutrition training is conducted and families use their own resources to feed malnourished children.