Objective: Describe acceptability for purchasing and price points for micronutrient powders
(MNP) for children 2-5 years among caregivers living in districts where free MNP are
distributed for children 6-23 months. Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted 3 months
after MNP program implementation in 2 plains ecozone districts; 15 months after
implementation in 2 different hills ecozone districts. Chi square tests and logistic regression
describe associations among socio-demographics and program exposure factors and
acceptability of purchasing MNP. Setting: Four districts in Nepal, 2011. Subjects: 1261
mothers of children 6-23 months who had heard of MNP. Results: Overall, 77.5% and 86.1%
of mothers reported acceptability for purchasing MNP in the 3 and 15 month surveys,
respectively. Positive pricing attitude (PPA) about paying 150 Nepali rupees for 60 sachets
of MNP was reported by 66.3% and 73.4% of mothers. Acceptability for purchasing MNP in
both time periods increased with higher wealth quintile and higher maternal education; PPA
increased with higher maternal education. Controlling for socio-demographics, program
exposure factors associated with acceptability for purchasing MNP included: lack of
perceived barriers to MNP intake and health worker counseling (3 month surveys); knowledge
of benefits of MNP intake and lack of perceived barriers to MNP intake (15 month surveys).
Conclusions: We found reported acceptability for purchasing MNP and PPA for older
children in Nepal. Differences in acceptability were found across socio-demographics and
program exposures. Use of these results and further exploration into actual purchasing
behavior can inform future MNP distribution methods in Nepal.