Saving Brain in Uganda and Burkina Faso

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Poor Performance Status; Neurologic Deficits; Mixed Behavior and Emotional Disorder; Malnutrition; Infections, Hospital
• Interventions: Behavioral: Peer support for exclusive breastfeeding

• Registration Number: NCT01882335
• Lead Sponsor: Makerere University

Brief Summary

The study will estimate the effect of peer-counseling for exclusive breast feeding (EBF) in the first 6 months of life on cognition and other determinants of human capital formation including behavioral and emotional status; school readiness and attainment; health status; fine and gross motor skills; physical growth; and household economic status.

Detailed Description

Between 2006 and 2008 we carried out a cluster randomized study (PROMISE-EBF) to establish the effect of individual home based peer counselling on exclusive breast feeding (EBF). The results, published in the Lancet in 2011 were remarkable(Tylleskar T, et al). The PROMISE-EBF trial which compared mothers in the intervention arm that were offered at least 5 peer-visits promoting EBF to mothers in the control arm, that received the standard of care showed a doubling in the prevalence of EBF in the intervention arm. Community-based peer counsellors increased the EBF rate in Uganda and Burkina Faso from about 40% to 80%.

The current study will trace and re-enrol at least 70% of the children involved in the PROMISE-EBF study. These children are now aged between 5 and 7 years.

The primary objective of the current study is to evaluate the effect of peer-counselling for EBF in the first six months of life on human capital formation among children in Uganda and Burkina Faso.

This study will contribute to a crucial wider discussion on external validity regarding the relationship between EBF and intellectual performance and mental health. In the social area, this study will identify solutions to potential barriers that limit scale up for peer-counselling for EBF. From the business perspective, the study will identify the best business model for affordable, acceptable and cost effective ways of delivering peer counselling for EBF in Burkina Faso and Uganda. If this intervention is found effective, and is adopted, it could improve productivity in adulthood and work towards breaking the cycle of poverty.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2013-04
• Study Start: 2013-04
• Study First Submitted: 2013-06-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-06-18
• Study First Posted: 2013-06-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-08-01
• Last Update Posted: 2013-08-02
• Primary Completion: 2014-04
• Study Completion: 2014-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 600

Inclusion Criteria

• Children whose mothers participated in the original intervention of peer support for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).
• Informed caregiver consent

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Behavioral	Peer support for exclusive breastfeeding	Peer support for mothers to encourage them to exclusively breastfeed their babies for 6 months

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive function	one year	Proportion of children with impaired cognitive function in intervention compared to the control group

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cost-effectiveness of promoting peer-counselling for exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life to support human capital formation	3 months	Determine the cost of promoting peer counselling for exclusive breastfeeding in relation to the cost of attending to children with poor outcomes

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Makerere University; 🇺🇬 Kampala, Uganda