Success in Action: Tackling Acute Malnutrition with Positive Deviance Hearth

This brief shows how Positive Deviance Hearth (PDH) programming can be effective in treating and preventing both underweight and uncomplicated acute malnutrition. 

PDH is an innovative, community-driven solution that harnesses locally available nutrient-dense foods to rehabilitate malnourished children without reliance on expensive imported products or even processed local foods. Unlike traditional approaches, PDH empowers caregivers with practical, long-term skills, ensuring impact beyond programme interventions. Recent studies indicate the effectiveness of PDH programming in recovery of children with uncomplicated moderate and severe acute malnutrition.

Investing in PDH means:

• treating malnourished children at a fraction of the cost
• empowering families with lasting knowledge and skills
• reducing reliance on costly imported therapeutic foods
• advocating for improved food quality and nutrition literacy, reducing consumption of
  ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Learn more about World Vision's Positive Deviance/Hearth programming.