["Care" and public nutrition].

Area of Science:

• Nutrition science
• Public health
• Developmental psychology

Context:

• The UNICEF conceptual framework (1990) identified care as a key determinant of child survival, growth, and development.
• The concept of care has been refined through extensive research, policy adoption, and empirical studies.
• Care encompasses the time, attention, and support provided to meet a child's physical, mental, and social needs.

Purpose:

• To explore the multifaceted concept of care in relation to child nutrition.
• To analyze the components and resources involved in caregiving practices.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for effective care and propose intervention strategies.

Summary:

• Caregiving actions by caregivers, primarily mothers, translate resources into improved child nutrition, with quality of care being paramount.
• Care practices include feeding, hygiene, health, and psychosocial support, influenced by caregiver knowledge, economic status, and societal support.
• Child's active engagement influences caregiver responsiveness, highlighting a dynamic interaction in care provision.

Impact:

• Enhanced caregiving can optimize resource utilization for better child nutrition, even amid poverty.
• Understanding the complex interplay of care, resources, and child outcomes is vital for effective interventions.
• Sustainable improvements require participatory approaches that support traditional practices and address caregiver constraints, particularly women's status.