Communauty nutrition mutuals: Determinants of membership and household loyality.

Abstract

In Benin, food and nutrition problems among children aged 6 to 59 months reveal that 33.5% are affected by stunting (AGVSAN-SA, 2022). Although the Nutrition Community Mutual was set up as a mechanism to ensure the sustainability of food and nutrition security financing, recent studies have shown the existence of obstacles to enrollment and retention in these MNCs. The objective of the study is to identify the determinants of enrollment and retention in MCNs in Benin, especially in the departments of Atacora and Donga. Data collection was based on a two-stage stratified sample (n = 219 households). The analysis was performed through a multi-logistic regression with a selection of predictors by the Stepwise Backward method based on the likelihood ratio.

Low adherence was significantly associated with lack of community trust and dissatisfaction among MCN adherents. Three additional barriers should also be considered: financial capacity, lack of information, and cultural and religious beliefs. Furthermore, low retention in MCNs is significantly associated with dissatisfaction, the financial capacity of members and the management mode of MCN.

For a successful community development strategy in the management of malnutrition, it is necessary to take into account the determinants of community membership and retention in MCNs.