Development and evaluation of blended interventions to prevent stunting in children of adolescent mothers: A mixed methods study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop and assess the impact of nursing interventions aimed at preventing stunting in children of adolescent pregnant women. METHODS: A two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed. The first phase used a descriptive interpretative approach, employing in-depth interviews with adolescent mothers and focus group discussions with healthcare staff. The second phase used a quasi-experimental non-equivalent group design, involving 60 adolescent mothers divided into two groups (intervention and control) and recruited through convenience sampling. RESULTS: Three key themes were identified in phase one: Limited knowledge about stunting, Tailored information and care for adolescent mothers and Recommendations for blended intervention. The intervention developed based on phase two data demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge (p: 0.001) and food frequency before and after implementation (p:0.035) in the intervention group and there were no significantly differences in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference for attitude (p: 0.341) in both groups. CONCLUSION: Study findings highlight the positive impact of the intervention on knowledge and nutritional practices of adolescent mothers. Thus, prenatal care plays a key role in contributing to awareness of nutrition during pregnancy in stunting prevention. IMPLICATION TO PRACTICE: Blended interventions that combine digital tools with face-to-face support can be effectively integrated into maternal and child health programs targeting adolescent mothers. Healthcare providers can address the unique vulnerabilities of adolescent mothers, improve caregiving practices, and ultimately reduce the risk of stunting in their children.

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