Improving the Nutritional Status of Talibé Children through Maternal Empowerment in Senegal: The Meouane+ Project

Abstract

Talibé children in Senegal are often exposed to begging, food insecurity, and nutritional deficiencies. Daaras—traditional Quranic schools—are theoretically responsible for providing adequate food to their residents, but in practice, food provision is frequently insufficient. Addressing the nutritional needs of talibé children requires both systemic support and greater community engagement, particularly through maternal involvement. Objectives: This project aimed to improve the nutritional status of talibé children and to strengthen the social and economic empowerment of their mothers within the framework of daara-based interventions. Methods: A mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design was used, comparing intervention and control daaras over time and location. The intervention comprised four components: i) establishing a workshop to produce enriched cassava flour, ii) training mothers in hygiene, nutrition, and dietary practices, iii) supporting mothers in flour production and marketing, and iv) integrating enriched flour into the school meals of the intervention daara. The project was launched in 2022. Results: A total of 50 children were enrolled, including 35 in the intervention group. The average age of children was 7.12 years (±1.83), and the mothers were on average 37.45 years old (±8.83). Results showed an 80.2% reduction in diarrheal cases among talibé children. Mothers’ knowledge of nutritional practices improved by 68.5%, and their average monthly income increased by 32.5%. Multivariate analysis revealed that satisfaction was significantly associated with a positive assessment of training quality (OR = 2.5 [1.4 - 4.5]), the use of quality local foods (OR = 2.9 [1.5 - 5.6]), and the empowerment of local actors (OR = 1.8 [1.2 - 2.7]). Increased purchasing power also showed a positive trend (OR = 2.6 [0.9 - 3.7]), though not statistically significant. Conclusion: The Meouane+ project demonstrated measurable benefits in improving child nutrition and promoting women’s empowerment in the context of daaras. In Senegal, traditional religious schools can be modernized through integrated nutritional, educational, and economic strategies. Empowering mothers—particularly through community-based, female-led entrepreneurship—can serve as a key lever in addressing child vulnerability and curbing forced begging among talibés.