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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02242539

Tools to Improve Parental Recognition of Developmental Deficits in Children

In this study, we aim to improve child nutrition by increasing parents' awareness of their children's physical growth. We use a cluster-randomized trial design to evaluate two interventions that provide parents with regular information on their children's physical development and growth: 1) distribution of full-sized growth charts for measurement of child height within households; and 2) organization of community-based meetings, during which children's height and weight are measured by trained project staff.

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Key information

Conditions

Malnutrition Child Development Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

6 month–18 month

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Household sample

Chipata District, Zambia

About this study

The target population for the study will be children between the ages of 6 and 18 months at baseline living in small-scale farming households in Chipata District, Zambia. As part of a cluster-randomized trial titled "Food Constraints, Yield Uncertainty and 'Ganyu' Labor" funded by IZA-DFID (PI: G Fink), 3,100 farming households in approximately 180 rural villages in Eastern Province are currently enrolled in a two-year study, which aims at assessing the effect of food loan programs on agricultural productivity. The study described here uses the "Food Constraints" population as a sampling frame; all households enrolled in the "Food Constraints" program that have a child between 6 and 18 months are invited to participate in this add-on trial. We anticipate that there will be around 600 eligible households recruited for this study. Study duration is about 18 months. Selected households will be visited for study enrollment and a short baseline assessment in September 2014, at which time the two interventions will also be rolled out. Final impact of the interventions will be assessed one year later, in September 2015.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • All households with a child between the ages of 6 and 18 months at baseline

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Height measurement poster

Behavioral

Each household is provided with a poster which study personnel help to hang on the wall. The poster clearly indicates height-for-age benchmarks and stunting cut-offs for study-age children. Parents are provided training on how to measure their children at regular intervals, and interpret height readings to determine whether their child is developing normally or is stunted.

Community-based monitoring

Behavioral

Once every three months, villages are visited by study staff who measure children's heights and weights, and parents are informed if their children are below the reference measures established by the World Health Organization. If a child's weight is such that the child is classified as severely malnourished, the child is referred to the nearest health center for treatment. If the child is stunted (height-for-age z-score more than 2 standard deviations below the reference median), we provide parents with a supply of "Yummy Soy" powder, a fortified soy and maize mix popular among parents and widely available in local super markets. Parents are instructed to give one or two tea spoons of the mix to the child each day.

Primary outcomes

  1. Height-for-age z-score

    Time frame: At the end of one year

    Children's heights will be measured and height-fore-age z-scores will be determined using standards published by the World Health Organization

  2. Child development outcomes

    Time frame: At the end of one year

    Through parental reports and child tasks we will measure various aspects of child development, including motor skills and verbal skills

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)

    Time frame: At the end of one year

    Children will be measured for mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) using standard measurement strips

  2. Dietary intake

    Time frame: At the end of one year

    Parents will be asked to report on children's dietary intake during the day preceding the survey

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston University

Other

Collaborators

  • Harvard University
  • Innovations for Poverty Action

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Sep 17, 2014
Registry last updated
Jan 13, 2016

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.

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