Background: Agricultural interventions have the potential to improve children's nutritional outcomes by addressing underlying determinants of malnutrition, including food security and income. A systematic review by Masset et al. (2012) provided valuable insights into this relationship. However, the field has evolved significantly since then, necessitating an updated synthesis of evidence to account for new studies and advances in methodologies.
Objective: This systematic review aims to replicate and update the findings of Masset et al. (2012) by examining the impact of agricultural interventions on children’s nutritional outcomes. The review will assess the effectiveness of various interventions, identify contextual factors influencing outcomes, and explore variations across intervention types, regions, and population groups.
Methods: The review will follow Campbell Collaboration guidelines for systematic reviews. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in academic databases and grey literature to identify relevant studies. Eligibility criteria will include studies assessing agricultural interventions with measurable impacts on children’s nutrition. Title and abstract screening, full-text review, and critical appraisal will be conducted by two independent reviewers. Data extraction will focus on intervention types, outcomes, and contextual factors. A meta-analysis will be performed to synthesize effect sizes, and results will be presented using forest plots and subgroup analyses.
Expected Outcomes: This updated review will provide policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of agricultural interventions in improving children's nutrition. It will contribute to evidence-based decision-making in designing and implementing nutrition-sensitive agricultural programs.
Implications: The findings will inform the development of targeted policies and interventions, promote efficient resource allocation, and identify evidence gaps for future research.
