(P07-003-25) Application and Impact of Resources for Care in Nutrition Research: A Systematic Citation Analysis of 25 Years of Evidence

Objectives: Adequate care practices are critical underlying determinants of child survival, growth, and development, as highlighted in the 1990 UNICEF conceptual framework for malnutrition. In 1999, Engle, Menon, and Haddad expanded this framework by introducing the concept of "resources for care" in their seminal paper, Care and Nutrition: Concepts and Measurement. These resources refer to the intangible supports caregivers require to provide nurturing care. They identified six categories: education, knowledge and beliefs; mental health; health and nutrition status; reasonable workloads and sufficient time; autonomy and control over resources; and social support. Over the past 25 years, this concept has been widely recognized, integrated into global frameworks, and applied across disciplines; however, a systematic investigation into its use and impact remains lacking. This study investigated the use, application, and impact of the resources for care concept in nutrition research and programs.

Methods: We conducted a systematic citation analysis using Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify 739 publications citing Engle et al.'s 1999 seminal paper. A predefined "Resources for Care Focused" definition was developed to identify studies grounded in resources for care concepts. Data extraction included study characteristics, nutrition outcomes, and framework applications. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted to synthesize findings.

Results: Among 739 identified citations, 696 studies met the inclusion criteria. Journal articles comprised 60% of publications, with 35% conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa and 84% published in English. Of the 264 "Resources for Care Focused" studies, 33% were intervention studies, and 49 adapted the framework. Outcomes primarily focused on growth and nutritional status, breastfeeding practices, and complementary feeding. The most frequently applied constructs were autonomy, knowledge and beliefs, reasonable workloads and sufficient time and mental heath.

Conclusions: The "resources for care" framework has significantly influenced global nutrition and care research over 25 years, yet its integration into nutrition behavioral interventions remains limited. Future research should prioritize integrating caregiving resources into culturally relevant interventions.

Funding Sources: N/A