BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This thesis is the result of a thorough search for effective and sustainable solutions to the problem of pediatric malnutrition. Two considerations have led to the research problem. Firstly, the fact that malnutrition is not only a physiological problem, but also the result of complex socio-economic conditions at household level. Secondly, the potential of microfinance services as poverty alleviation tools. The question was the following: If microfinance services prove to be effective for improving the socio-economic situation of the families, should they not be used as suitable instruments of nutrition security at household and child level? This research aimed at investigating whether, how and when microfinance services effectively contribute to improve child nutritional status.THEORETICAL APPROACH: It was hypothesised that such a positive effect would deploy more often in the case of female borrowers and through an indirect path. Microfinance contribution to child nutritional status should mainly be explained by improved income and social power at individual level, which would in turn lead to better economic status at household level. An improved household wealth was supposed to have a positive impact on household food and health security and on child care.EMPIRICAL APPROACH : These hypotheses were tested drawing upon data from a crosssectional, quasi-experimental survey among refugee households from the West Nile region of Uganda. Regression-based moderation and mediation procedures were applied as statistical tool.EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE: The statistical analysis showed that children from households who benefited from microfinance had a significantly better height-for-age than control groups. This effect was mainly mediated through better household wealth, but not through individual socioeconomic empowerment. At a proximal level, what really mattered for child nutritional status was household health security, which was considerably influenced by individual income. Gender differences in microfinance overall effect on child nutritional status were not substantial in this context, although the underlying mediational mechanisms might differ. In fact, among men, microfinance negatively affected child care and positively household diet while those effects were not noticeable for women.IMPLICATIONS: This thesis suggests that microfinance might be an appropriate tool for improving child nutrition in specific crisis-affected settings. It confirms the social dimension of child nutrition and advocates for a household perspective to inquiry nutritional processes.
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