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Treatment of High-Risk Moderate Acute Malnutrition Using Expanded Admission Criteria

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Malnutrition
Interventions
Behavioral: Mother Care group
Dietary Supplement: Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)
Registration Number
NCT03647150
Lead Sponsor
Washington University School of Medicine
Brief Summary

This project explores whether children have better growth and cognitive development when the clinic identifies "higher risk" MAM children and support them either with the same treatment as SAM children or with the recommended practice: nutrition counseling.

Detailed Description

This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial taking place in 20 community clinics providing malnutrition care in Sierra Leone.

All participants will be children aged 6-59 months. Control participants will have moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), defined as mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) 11.5-\<12.5. High Risk MAM will be defined with a MUAC 11.5 to \<11.9 or WAZ\<-3.5 or Mother not the caretaker or not breastfeeding at \<2 years old. Low risk MAM defined with a MUAC 11.9 to \<12.5 with no risk factors.

Control group and low risk group caregiver's will received nutrition education via mother care groups every two weeks for 6 weeks and will be followed up 12 and 24 weeks post-enrollment.

High risk group will receive 1 week supply of amoxicillin at enrollment and 1 sachet of RUTF per day till MUAC is equal to or greater than 12.5 or up to 12 weeks of treatment. Their caregiver will also receive nutrition education via the mother care groups. The investigators will also follow up with the participant at 12 and 24 weeks post-enrollment.

A subset of the participants in each group will also be enrolled in a cognitive development substudy were the investigators will be using a eye tracking performance assessment. Investigators will also enroll health adult participants for eye tracking assessment. Adult data will be used as a reference when interpreting results.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1322
Inclusion Criteria
  • uncomplicated MAM (based on MUAC equal to or greater than 11.5 cm and <12.5)
Exclusion Criteria
  • currently involved in another research trial or feeding program
  • medical complication such as oedema, severe nausea/vomiting, severe dehydration, or severe pneumonia
  • have a diagnosed or visible sign of developmental delay
  • have a history of peanut or milk allergy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)Mother Care groupMAM children at control clinics or MAM children at intervention clinics that do no have high rick characteristics. Control treatment is "Mother Care" counselling, delivered by a respected elder in the local community.
High Risk Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)The intervention treatment incorporates Mother Care counselling, provision of one packet (508 calories) of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) daily and a 1 week course of amoxicillin. This provision will continue until the child has reached a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) equal to or greater than 12.5 cm or 12 weeks have elapsed.
High Risk Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)Mother Care groupThe intervention treatment incorporates Mother Care counselling, provision of one packet (508 calories) of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) daily and a 1 week course of amoxicillin. This provision will continue until the child has reached a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) equal to or greater than 12.5 cm or 12 weeks have elapsed.
High Risk Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM)amoxicillinThe intervention treatment incorporates Mother Care counselling, provision of one packet (508 calories) of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) daily and a 1 week course of amoxicillin. This provision will continue until the child has reached a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) equal to or greater than 12.5 cm or 12 weeks have elapsed.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM)up to 12 weeks of treatment

proportion of participants recovered based on mid-upper arm circumference(MUAC) Recovery is defined as MUAC greater than or equal to 12.5cm before or at 12 weeks after enrollment.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Participants that remain or become Stunted24 weeks post-enrollment

the difference between length for age z-score(LAZ) from enrollment to 24 weeks post enrollment

Participants deterioration to severe acute malnutrition(SAM)Duration of the study 24 weeks post-enrollment

Proportion of participants that deteriorate from moderate acute malnutrition(MAM) to severe acute malnutrition(SAM). SAM is defined at mid-upper arm circumference(MUAC)\<11.5 or presence of oedema.

Eye tracking performance for cognitive development24 weeks post enrollment

the difference between the eye tracking performance from enrollment to 24 weeks post enrollment

Participant survival ratesDuration of the study 24 weeks post-enrollment

Proportion of participants survival rates during the study

Participants that remain or become underweight using weight for age z-score24 weeks post-enrollment

the difference between the weight for age z-score(WAZ) from enrollment to 24 weeks post-enrollment

Participants that remain or become Wasted24 weeks post-enrollment

the difference between weight for length z-score(WHL) from enrollment to 24 weeks post enrollment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Project Peanut Butter

🇸🇱

Freetown, Sierra Leone

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