Peer-reviewed article
Using the lives saved tool as a decision-making tool for multisectoral nutrition strategic planning for 2020–2024: experience from Burkina Faso
Natacha Kere, Youssouf Keita, Ella W. R. Compaore, Thierry Z. Coulibaly, Fabrice O. Kambou et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This study used a computer model called the Lives Saved Tool to estimate how Burkina Faso's five-year nutrition plan could affect child health. Researchers compared two versions of the plan: one with basic feeding and malaria prevention actions, and an expanded version adding zinc supplements and clean water and sanitation measures. The expanded plan was projected to reduce child deaths and stunting more than the basic plan. The study also estimated the cost of each version of the plan. This is a planning and forecasting exercise, not a report on interventions actually implemented and observed in children.
Key points
- Under-five mortality was projected to fall from 85.4 to 80.6 per 1000 live births under the basic plan (MNSP), and to 73.6 under the expanded plan (MNSP+).
- Complementary feeding under MNSP was projected to prevent 80% of chronic malnutrition cases.
- Zinc supplementation under MNSP+ was projected to prevent 46% of chronic malnutrition cases.
- The projected cost was $447,431,001 for MNSP and $557,768,209 for MNSP+ over five years.
- The MNSP+ package, which added zinc supplementation and WASH interventions, showed greater projected impact than MNSP alone.
Limitations
The findings are based on mathematical modeling and assumptions about coverage and effect sizes, not on direct observation of children's outcomes, so real-world results may differ.
Abstract
Abstract In the fight against malnutrition, Burkina Faso has developed a Multisectoral Nutrition Strategic Plan (MNSP). This study was conducted to assess the plan’s potential impact on reducing mortality and chronic malnutrition among children under five, using mathematical modeling through the Lives Saved Tool (LiST). Two projections were developed. The first, MNSP, included the strategic plan interventions, namely complementary feeding, age-appropriate breastfeeding practices, and prevention of malaria in pregnancy. The second, MNSP +, included the MNSP interventions, along with additional interventions such as zinc supplementation for children and WASH interventions. The results showed that under-five mortality would decline from 85.4 to 80.6 deaths per 1000 live births under MNSP, and from 85.4 to 73.6 deaths per 1000 live births under MNSP + . The findings also showed that complementary feeding under the MNSP projection would prevent 80% of chronic malnutrition cases, while zinc supplementation under the MNSP + projection would prevent 46% of cases. The projected cost of the interventions modeled in LiST for this study is estimated at $447,431,001 for MNSP and $557,768,209 for MNSP + over the five-year implementation period. Overall, the LiST analysis showed that both MNSP and MNSP + interventions would have a significant impact on chronic malnutrition and under-five mortality in Burkina Faso, with a greater impact observed under MNSP + .
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Multisectoral Nutrition Strategic Plan interventions including complementary feeding, breastfeeding promotion, malaria prevention in pregnancy, zinc supplementation, and WASH measures
- Population
- Children under five in Burkina Faso
Key finding
Under-five mortality projected to decline from 85.4 to 80.6 (MNSP) or 73.6 (MNSP+) per 1000 live births
Kere et al. · OpenAlex · 19 Sept 2026