Evaluation of the feasibility of group-based microfinance credit program as a strategy for facilitating reduction of prevalence of undernutrition in San Fernando, Masbate /
Ronald Espedido Ferreras.
- xv, 115 leaves : illustrations (some color)
Graduate School of Public and Development Management
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a group-based microfinance credit program as a strategy for facilitating the reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition in San Fernando, Masbate. Specifically, this study investigated the challenges and obstacles to decreasing the rate of malnutrition, the contribution of actors involve in the implementation of local nutrition programs, how microfinance credit agency complement in supporting sustainable nutrition program implementation and to what extent the financial support of microfinance credit agencies genuinely uplift the state and condition of undernutrition in municipality of San Fernando, Masbate. This project involved San Fernando, Masbate in collaboration with JMH Foundation Inc. and Card MRI Bank as group-based microfinance credit agencies. The subject of this study is the 32 mothers with malnourished children identified by barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars in barangay with high prevalence of undernutrition. The descriptive method of research was used since it designed to gather facts on the relationship of respondents' assessment in the analysis of variables surrounding the study. The researcher utilized a research-made questionnaire as a tool for gathering data. The researcher conducted surveys and informal interviews to the respondents who are mothers with malnourished children identified by the barangay nutrition scholars and were subjected in the focused-group discussions and family development sessions to know their level of knowledge and awareness of the implications of malnutrition in the family, community, and country in one. It was found out that minimal number of mothers with malnourished children showed that they are not interested to join in any microfinance institutions because of many factors that hinder their participation. It has been observed also that those mothers who enrolled in microfinance, their purchasing power and credit worthiness increased because of money gained from a business started facilitated by microfinance institutions. Out of 45 respondents, 37 of them stated that after that livelihood training programs, they can now buy in cash to nearby sari-sari store and not in credits and wait for 4Ps allocation to pay their debts; 37 respondents can now buy school supplies to their children; 35 of them can now buy snacks to their children every day. Out of 45 mothers who are engaged already in business, 34 of them can now buy their families' consumption in bulk. On conclusion, to reduce the prevalence of undernutrition in the municipality of San Fernando, Masbate, there must be an improvement to increase the income of the poor, delivery of quality health services and direct nutritional programs should be given priority.
Malnutrition--Prevention and control. Nutrition. Nutrition disorders--Prevention. Public health.