Tools to Improve Parental Recognition of Developmental Deficits in Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Child Development; Malnutrition
• Interventions: Behavioral: Community-based monitoring; Behavioral: Height measurement poster

• Registration Number: NCT02242539
• Lead Sponsor: Boston University

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-09
• Study First Submitted: 2014-09-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-09-15
• Study First Posted: 2014-09-17
• Primary Completion: 2015-09
• Study Completion: 2015-09
• Status Verified: 2016-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-01-11
• Last Update Posted: 2016-01-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 547

Inclusion Criteria

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

Exclusion Criteria

• None

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Community-based monitoring	Community-based monitoring	-
Height measurement poster	Height measurement poster	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Height-for-age z-score	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
Child development outcomes	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 Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)	At the end of one year	Children will be measured for mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) using standard measurement strips
Dietary intake	At the end of one year	Parents will be asked to report on children's dietary intake during the day preceding the survey

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Household sample; 🇿🇲 Chipata District, Zambia