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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02802332

Use of a Foot Length Card to Improve Careseeking Practices of Vulnerable Newborns in Sarlahi District, Nepal

This study will evaluate whether or not provision of a simple card ("footlength card") that allows identification of low birth weight and/or preterm babies through measurement of the length of a baby's foot, can improve basic newborn care behaviors in rural Nepal.

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Key information

Conditions

Low Birth Weight Babies Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Obstetric Labor Complications Obstetric Labor, Premature Pregnancy Complications Premature Birth Preterm Babies Urogenital Diseases

Age range

15 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project

Hariaun, Sarlahi District, Nepal

About this study

This study will evaluate a recently developed, simple, low-cost tool that can help recently delivered women and their family members identify whether or not their newborn baby needs extra care/attention. Some prior studies of the relationship between anthropometric measures (such as chest-circumference, footlength, head circumference, etc) and preterm birth or low birth weight, have shown that these measures can be used to identify high-risk/vulnerable babies. One such measure, foot length, has been shown to be a reasonable tool, and one that can be simply performed by mothers, without disturbing the newborn infant. With this in mind, Save The Children has developed a low cost card with an image of a baby's foot on one side, along with a toll-free number and some key messages on how to use the card. Specifically, pregnant women can be given this card during an antenatal contact, along with some basic instructions on its use. Then, after their baby is born, the newly delivered woman, other family member, or low-level facility provider can compare the length of the baby's foot to the image on the card, by lining the baby's foot up with the card. If the baby's foot is shorter than the image on the card, a toll-free number (provided on the card itself) can be used to access a set of standardized messages about how to take care of the baby.

In this proposed study, Save the Children, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and the JHU-led Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project - Sarlahi (NNIPS) will give this card to women currently enrolled in the Nepal Oil Massage Study (NCT01177111), explain its use, follow up with the woman after delivery to determine if she used the card, and query her about her experience using the card, calling the toll-free number, and recalling the messages given. Additionally, one of the NNIPS staff workers will use the same card to measure the baby's foot. Ultimately, the study will summarize women's experience using this card, and provide guidance to Save the Children, the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), and other stakeholders regarding future programmatic scale up of the use of this card.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Woman is pregnant
  • Woman is enrolled in ongoing newborn oil massage study

Exclusion criteria

  • Not pregnant
  • Not enrolled in ongoing newborn oil massage study

Treatment and study plan

Footlength Card

Behavioral

The footlength card has an image of a baby's foot. The card is to be held up against the baby's foot after birth; if a baby's foot is smaller than the image, or if the woman/family member is concerned about the health of their baby, they can call the number printed on the card and hear a pre-recorded message about basic care for newborn babies

Primary outcomes

  1. skin to skin contact

    Time frame: within first 28 days after birth

    Does the mother report practicing skin to skin contact during the first 28 days after birth

  2. careseeking for newborn

    Time frame: within first 28 days after birth

    Does the mother report seeking care for newborn (either routine postnatal care OR careseeking for illness) during the first 28 days after birth

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Other

Collaborators

  • Save the Children

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jun 16, 2016
Registry last updated
Apr 23, 2018

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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