Impact indicators

While we have reviewed how to measure implementation, audience perceptions of campaign materials and behaviour change, some larger programmes may choose to evaluate whether a programme has contributed to a meaningful change in child nutritional status. IYCF-related outcome indicators include:

• improvement in nutritional intake and quality of life; 
• a decrease in stunting, wasting, hidden hunger and obesity; 
• reductions in burden of malnutrition related morbidity and mortality; or 
• decreases in health care costs and productivity losses.

However, measuring a programme’s impact on child nutritional status is more likely to occur following a collection or package of interventions or policies aimed at behaviour change; food availability, accessibility and affordability; education; healthcare access and service delivery; and more. Data to support impact measurement is often sourced from national health and nutrition surveys, economic household surveys, global and regional health and welfare surveys, and other development reports.