Positive Deviance/Hearth: A Resource Guide for Sustainably Rehabiliting Malnourished Children

A Positive Deviance/Hearth Nutrition Program is a home-based and neighborhood-based nutrition program for children who are at risk for protein-energy malnutrition in developing countries.

The program uses the “positive deviance” approach to identify those behaviors practiced by the mothers or caretakers of well-nourished children from poor families and to transfer such positive practices to others in the community with malnourished children. The “Hearth” or home is the location for the nutrition education and rehabilitation sessions. This resource guide explains in detail how to identify at-risk children, conduct a Positive Deviance Inquiry to identify positive practices, conduct Hearth sessions, and set up a monitoring and evaluation system. Specific field examples and useful tools are provided.

Last modified: August 4, 2021

Language: English