Quality counseling can positively impact maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) behaviors linked to poor nutrition outcomes. Global guidance includes 93 recommendations on MIYCN counseling.

Adolescence is a critical period of physical and psychological development, especially for girls, because poor nutrition can affect their wellbeing as well as that of their children.

This manual can be used as part of an in-service orientation/training for newly employed or deployed health professionals working in MIYCN. It can also be used to train existing primary healthcare (PHC) workers on essential MIYCN services that can be integrated into PHC services.

Adequate maternal nutrition is essential for maternal and infant health, particularly as a major determinant of pregnancy outcomes.

Women's significant contributions to food production and security, especially through breastfeeding, often go unnoticed, perpetuating inequitable and unsustainable global food systems.

Anemia remains a critical maternal nutrition issue in low- and middle-income countries. Literature search, formative research and baseline surveys, informed the design of interventions to improve adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and India.