Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04729829

Fish Consumption and Dietary Diversity in Timor-Leste

A one-year, cluster-randomized, partially masked, controlled trial to test and compare the effects of fish aggregating devices and social and behaviour change communication on the frequency and volume of household fish consumption in upland areas of Timor-Leste.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Dietary Deficiency Malnutrition Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

WorldFish Timor-Leste

Dili, Timor-Leste

About this study

This trial is a one-year, cluster-randomized, partially masked, controlled trial among families living in rural, inland Timor-Leste. This trial aims to test and compare the effects of two treatments, alone and in combination, on the frequency and volume of household fish consumption in upland areas as a proxy for improved dietary diversity and micronutrient intake. Treatment 1 is the installation of nearshore, moored fish aggregating devices (FADs) to improve catch rates with existing fishing gears. Treatment 2 is social and behaviour change (SBC) activities to promote fish consumption. Villages in inland communities will be randomized to receive treatment 1, treatment 2, both treatments, or neither treatment. Some households with one child under five will be recruited, and data will be collected at baseline (prior to the rollout of the treatments) and endline. Our study will determine the impact of an improved supply of fish, along with nutrition-oriented SBC activities, on the fish purchasing and consumption practices of rural, inland households. Findings from this study are urgently needed by small island developing states in order to make policy and investment decisions on how best to improve households' diets using locally available, nutrient-dense foods such as fish. Investments such as these are needed to break the cycle of malnutrition.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • The individual's household is situated in a village included in the study, within a 30km radius of a coastal treatment site.

Exclusion criteria

  • The individual's household is not situated in a village included in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Social and behaviour change communication

Behavioral

Each SBC treatment community will receive nutrition content and learning through savings groups. The group members will participate in skill-building activities that promote five key behaviours about fish nutrition and household decision making on fish consumption as part of facilitated discussions, interactive learning sessions, and a video-based facilitated dialogue. Increased fish consumption through SBC mass attendance events through marketing of fish vendors, interactive learning, and edu-tainment competitions promoting fish consumption. SBC will raise awareness of the benefits of eating fish as part of a balanced diet, with a particular focus on pregnant and lactating mothers, and children under 5 years of age.

Fish aggregating device

Other

This is a moored line attached to buoys in coastal waters that attracts oceanic fish to it, to make it easier for small-scale fishers to catch them using their existing gear and boats. This FAD will work to increase the catch rate and hence, the availability of fish for sale in upland community markets.

Other names: FAD

Primary outcomes

  1. Per capita household fish consumption

    Time frame: 1 year

    measured as total quantity (g) of fish consumed by the household in the previous seven days divided by the number adult equivalents in the household.

  2. Frequency of fish consumed at household level

    Time frame: 1 year

    measured as the number of days fish were consumed out of the previous seven days.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Frequency of fish consumption in women

    Time frame: 1 year

    measured as the number of days fish were consumed out of the previous seven days.

  2. Frequency of fish consumption in children

    Time frame: 1 year

    measured as the number of days fish were consumed out of the previous seven days.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

WorldFish

Other

Collaborators

  • Mercy Corps

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomised Controlled Trial to Test the Effects of Fish Aggregating Devices and SBC Activities Promoting Fish Consumption in Timor-Leste

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2022
First posted
Jan 29, 2021
Registry last updated
Aug 28, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.