Stunting in Under-2 ChildrenNCT02768181
Evaluating Bundling of Nutrition-specific Interventions
A study testing Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) and Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years in people with Stunting in Under-2 Children, run by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh at 1 site in Bangladesh.
Trial summary
Background: 1. Burden: The prevalence of stunting among the under-five children in Bangladesh was >55% in 1997, which reduced to 41.9% in 2011. This reduction took 14 years to achieve with existing interventions, and till today Bangladesh remains among the countries with the highest stunting prevalence. 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 49 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Stunting in Under-2 Children
- What is being tested?
- Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) and Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 2,880 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBangladesh
- Study dates
- Nov 2015to Jan 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 49 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- All new pregnancies in the selected clusters
- Eligible woman is resident of the study area
- Gestational age ≤125 days
- Possible pregnant woman can identify her last menstrual period (LMP)
Who cannot join
- Similar nutrition interventions currently being implemented by either public or non-government agency in the selected cluster
- The cluster is too hard to reach and accessibility of the cluster is highly constrained by geographical impediments
- The cluster includes tea gardens. Communities in tea gardens comprise of unique ethnicity, culture and lifestyle for which our intervention is not customized
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Community-based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Different Bundles of Nutrition-specific Interventions in Improving Mean Length-for-age Z Score Among Children at 24 Months of Age in Rural Bangladesh
Background:
- Burden: The prevalence of stunting among the under-five children in Bangladesh was >55% in 1997, which reduced to 41.9% in 2011. This reduction took 14 years to achieve with existing interventions, and till today Bangladesh remains among the countries with the highest stunting prevalence.
- Knowledge gap: In the Lancet series on Maternal and Child Nutrition, Bhutta et al (2013) modelled the effect of 10 direct interventions on lives saved and economic costs in 34 countries which contains 90% of the children with stunted growth. Their findings suggested that at 90% coverage, these interventions could cut down under-5 year mortality by 15% and avert one-fifth of stunting. The total additional annual cost was estimated at $9.6 billion. There is a dearth of primary research, however, to determine a feasible, effective bundle of interventions for developing countries.
- Relevance: This study will review and test different sets of nutrition-specific intervention bundles in a cohort of pregnant women and the subsequent impact on the length-for-age Z score (LAZ) of their offspring from that pregnancy.
Read more
Hypothesis: Five selected nutrition-specific interventions implemented during early pregnancy and during first two years of child's life in different bundles will cause a shift of 0.4 in mean LAZ score among children at 24 months of age compared to those in comparison arm.
Methods: The investigators propose a community-based randomized trial (cRCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of the five selected nutrition-specific interventions and identify the best combination for improving childhood LAZ. Selected interventions include prenatal nutrient supplementation; intensive counselling on prenatal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding and timely complementary feeding; and nutrient supplementation during 6-23 months of child's age. The proposed study area is Habiganj district, Sylhet division. 125 clusters (each ~2000 population or ~450 households) will be selected from 12 homogeneous unions in 2 adjacent sub-districts. The clusters will then be randomly assigned to any one of the 5 study arms. Data would be collected at baseline and followed up, including on nutritional intake and anthropometric measurements of mothers and offspring. Primary outcome measure/variable would be mean LAZ of offspring at 24 months. Secondary outcome variables include nutritional intake during pregnancy, maternal weight gain, exclusive breast feeding up-to 6 months, and birth weight.
Implications: The investigators expect that the results will serve to inform and shape future health policy decisions related to promotion of maternal and child health.
Read the detailed description
Research Design and Methods
The investigators propose a community-based cluster randomized trial (cRCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of 5 selected prenatal and post-natal nutrition-specific interventions in improving mean LAZ scores among 24 months old children. The interventions to be tested in different combinations are-:
- Prenatal nutrition-specific counselling
- Prenatal nutrient supplementation
- Intensive counselling of exclusive breast-feeding during postnatal first six months
- Nutrient supplementation for children during 6-23 months of age with continued breastfeeding
- Complementary feeding counselling. The three counselling interventions (Behaviour change communication, BCC) will be universal in all intervention arms and the two types of supplementation will be provided in different combinations explained elsewhere. This design will allow testing for synergy, and help to determine the effect size of selected individual interventions, such as evaluating how much effect supplementation (for mother and/or child) would have on improving length-for-age z score (LAZ).
The cohort of pregnant women and their children from that pregnancy will be followed-up over 32 months of the intervention period.
Sample Size Calculation
Power-based sample size estimation procedure was adopted. Assumptions used in sample size calculation include:
- Mean LAZ for 18-23 month old children in comparison arm is -2.0 with standard deviation 1 (BDHS 2011)
- Expected effect size of 0.4 shift in mean LAZ score in intervention arms compared to comparison.
- 80% power, 5% alpha, ratio between 4 intervention and 1 comparison arms is 1:1:1:1:1.
- Intra-cluster correlation coefficient is 0.06 (BDHS 2011).
- Non response and lost-to-follow up 30% Using SATA clustersampsi command, sample size per study arm is calculated as 175 children of 18-24 months age. 7 children in each of 25 clusters (~2000 population each) would be followed up from ~125 days of gestational age to postnatal 24 months. The sample size in comparison arm will be doubled for analysing some secondary indicators.
Study setting The study will be conducted in the Habiganj district, Sylhet division for the reported highest stunting prevalence in Bangladesh. The investigators will select 12 Unions (population ~300,000) randomly from two adjacent sub-districts. Each Union would be divided into clusters, each cluster comprising of ~450 households or ~2000 population. In selected 125 study clusters, 10 and 20 pregnant women in each intervention and comparison cluster would be enrolled, respectively, and enrolment would be closed accordingly. Considering estimated live births per year at 21/1000 population, expected number of 24 months old children from each cluster by study completion would be 7, after adjusting for 4.5% mortality in postnatal two years and 30% drop-out. Thus, 25 clusters per study arm would yield 175 and 350 children per intervention comparison arms, respectively, reaching their second birthday, the required number of samples for the trial.
Treatment assignment The investigators will randomly select 5 clusters or multiples of 5 clusters per union, 125 clusters in total, by a computer assisted programme. In each union, the selected clusters will be evenly allocated to the 5 study arms, specified by a random allocation sequence generated by a computer assisted programme.
Recruitment of participants Pregnant women in the study area would be listed through a door-to-door surveillance conducted fortnightly. From them, those within 125 gestational age would be voluntarily enrolled into the study upon confirmation by pregnancy strip tests.
Post-enrolment study procedure:
After enrolment, two teams would be active: 1) The intervention team in intervention arms (arms 1, 2, 3 and 4); and 2) The assessment team in all 5 arms. Both teams would be supervised and monitored by two layers of field supervisors.
- The intervention team Interventions will be implemented by a trained team of Community Health Workers (CHWs), supervised by Field Supervisors (FSs), all locally recruited. After staff recruitment, the CHWs and the FSs would be trained by master trainers of nutrition-specific BCC, with rigorous field practices, before formally commencing to deliver intervention.
- The assessment team An independent team of data collectors (DCs) will be recruited locally and trained by the central team for data collection. The enrolment DC team will collect baseline and follow up data.
Project Management Information System (MIS) A comprehensive automated project MIS will be developed through web linked tablet-PC-based pregnancy enrolment, data collection and intervention delivery format. The android-based customised platform will direct the CHWs and enrolment DCs of their intervention and data collection visit schedules, respectively, and will also contain the BCC modules and the questionnaires as required.
Data collection All data collection tools are adopted from standard validated structured questionnaire, especially from BDHS. Key indicators to be reported and tools to be used are showed in table 2.
- Baseline characteristics: Demographic, Socio-economic, reproductive information and household food security of participant women will be collected with a structured questionnaire during enrolment into the trial.
- Nutritional intake of pregnant and lactating women: Nutritional intake (energy and protein) of mothers will be assessed by an open 24-hour recall form at enrolment, 6th and 9th months of pregnancy and 3rd, 12th, 18th months of lactation period.
- Nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women: Anthropometric measurements will be collected to assess initial nutritional status and subsequent weight gain during pregnancy. Weight, height and MUAC of pregnant women will be measured at enrolment, with weight and MUAC measured again at 6th and 8th month of pregnancy, and postnatal follow-up visits. Weight will be measured using an electronic weighing scale of Tanita with a precision of 100 gm. Surgical and medical product (NSW, Australia) height measuring scale will be used for measuring height of pregnant women. MUAC would be measured with a standardised MUAC tape for adults.
- Nutritional intake of children: Nutritional intake and feeding practice of infants will be measured on the 7th day of birth, then 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. WHO-recommended IYCF indicators would be addressed, i.e. early initiation of breastfeeding, pre-lacteal feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age of the children. 24-hour and 7-day dietary recall would assess the information.
- Anthropometric measurements of children: Birth weight will be collected within 24 hours of live birth, measured using an electronic weighing scale preferably SECA (Hamburg, Germany) with a precision on 10g. Length of newborns will be measured using locally made collapsible length boards with 1mm precision. These measurements will continue on 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of birth.
- Supplement compliance: The compliance form is a structured questionnaire on respondents' attitude and practice towards the ante-natal and complementary food supplements provided to them.
All measurement equipment would be calibrated before each use.
- Conditions
- Stunting in Under-2 Children
- Being tested
- Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS), Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years
- Keywords
- nutrition-specific behaviour change communication, dietary supplements
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC)Behavioural
Door-to-door counseling on nutrition during pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding from enrolment into study till birth; exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition of lactating mothers during post-natal 6 months; timely and appropriate complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding until 2 years of child's age, and nutrition of lactating mothers during post-natal 6-24 months; all counseling would be supplemented with associated issues including hygiene and sanitation, mother's sleep and rest, maternal and child healthcare seeking etc.
Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS)Dietary supplement
A lipid-based micronutrient supplement (LNS) is packed in ~10g sachets. Formulation: Vegetable fat (soy), skimmed milk powder, peanuts, vitamin and mineral complex, sugar, stabilizer: fully hydrogenated vegetable fat, and antioxidant : tocopherols. Each sachet contains 70-75% of recommended dietary allowance for most of the micronutrients, including iron, folic acid, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, B1, B2, niacin, B12 etc.
Dose: 1 sachet/pregnant woman/day starting from the first counseling session (GA ~125∓15 days) continued till birth of baby. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. To avoid overdose, respondents receiving this supplement should stop taking any other micronutrient supplement or drink.
Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 yearsDietary supplement
A lipid-based micronutrient supplement (LNS) is packed in ~10g sachets. Formulation: Vegetable fat, skimmed milk powder, peanuts, sugar, vitamin and mineral complex, maltodextrin, and emulsifier: lecithin. Each sachet contains 70-75% of recommended dietary allowance for most of the micronutrients, including iron, folic acid, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, B1, B2, niacin, B12 etc. Each 20 g of LNS provide ≥4.46g LA (Linoleic Acid) and ≥0.42g ALA (α-Linolenic Acid).
Dose: 2 sachets ~(10+10=20g)/child/day from 5th completed months (181 days) to 24 completed months of child's age. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. To avoid overdose, respondents receiving this supplement should stop taking any other micronutrient supplement or drink.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1: BCC+PNS+CNS | Experimental | Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth, along with a lipid-based nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) till delivery. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children, along with a lipid-based nutrient supplement for children (CNS) aged 6m to 2 years. Receives: Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC); Dietary Supplement: Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS); Dietary Supplement: Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years |
| Arm 2: BCC+PNS | Experimental | Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth, along with nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) till delivery. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children. Receives: Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC); Dietary Supplement: Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) |
| Arm 3: BCC+CNS | Experimental | Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children, along with nutrient supplement to children (CNS) 6m to 2 years. Receives: Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC); Dietary Supplement: Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years |
| Arm 4: BCC only | Experimental | Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children. Receives: Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC) |
| Arm 5: comparison | No intervention | No intervention will be provided by the study. The existing services delivered though government health systems will be continued. Government /NGO-led routine counseling and supplementary services available at Upazila and union levels, which include prenatal counseling, exclusive breastfeeding counseling, and maternal iron-folic acid supplementation and vitamin-A supplementation for children will continue. However, assessment of outcomes will be conducted in same frequency and schedule, alike in intervention arms, described in data collection section. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Length-for-age Z scores (LAZ) at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline LAZ at 7 days of birth.
Method of outcome assessment: Length measurement of study child
Measured: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Secondary outcomes (8)
Nutritional intake (energy and protein) of pregnant women in intervention and comparison arms
Method of outcome assessment: 24-hour dietary recall method (FAO guideline based)
Measured: ~125 days of gestation till birth delivery
Early initiation of breastfeeding in intervention and comparison arms
Method of outcome assessment: Questionnaire at 24 hours and 7 days of birth (WHO guideline based, Bangladesh Demographic \& Health Survey validated)
Measured: Birth delivery
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates up-to six months in intervention and comparison arms
Method of outcome assessment: 24-hour dietary recall by mother at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5m of study child's age
Measured: Birth delivery to 6 months of child's age (180 days)
Maternal weight gain during pregnancy in intervention and comparison arms
Method of outcome assessment: Weight measurement of study mother and calculating weight gain from baseline to 3rd measurement
Measured: ~125 days of gestation till birth delivery
Birth weight of live newborns in intervention compared to comparison clusters
Method of outcome assessment: Weight measurement of study child
Measured: Birth delivery
IYCF practices (age-appropriate complementary feeding along with continued breastfeeding until postnatal 2 years) among the intervention and comparison arms
Method of outcome assessment: 24-hour dietary recall (FAO guideline based) and 7-day food frequency questionnaire method by mother
Measured: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Change in weight-for-length Z scores (WLZ) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline WLZ at 7 days of birth.
Method of outcome assessment: Length and weight measurement of study child
Measured: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Change in weight-for-age Z scores (WAZ) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline WAZ at 7 days of birth.
Method of outcome assessment: Weight measurement of study child
Measured: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 May 2016 (estimated)
- Study startNov 2015
- Primary completionJan 2019
- Study completionJan 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (16)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Stunting in Under-2 ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 2,880 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Department for International Development, United Kingdom, International Food Policy Research Institute, University of Sydney, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02768181
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PR-14124
- Status last verified
- Mar 2018
- First submitted
- 2 May 2016
- Last updated
- 22 Mar 2019
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Bhutta ZA, Das JK, Rizvi A, Gaffey MF, Walker N, Horton S, Webb P, Lartey A, Black RE; Lancet Nutrition Interventions Review Group, the Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group. Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition: what can be done and at what cost? Lancet. 2013 Aug 3;382(9890):452-477. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60996-4. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
PubMed 23746776Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, Bhutta ZA, Christian P, de Onis M, Ezzati M, Grantham-McGregor S, Katz J, Martorell R, Uauy R; Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet. 2013 Aug 3;382(9890):427-451. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
PubMed 23746772Liu L, Johnson HL, Cousens S, Perin J, Scott S, Lawn JE, Rudan I, Campbell H, Cibulskis R, Li M, Mathers C, Black RE; Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group of WHO and UNICEF. Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000. Lancet. 2012 Jun 9;379(9832):2151-61. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60560-1. Epub 2012 May 11.
PubMed 22579125Bhutta ZA, Ahmed T, Black RE, Cousens S, Dewey K, Giugliani E, Haider BA, Kirkwood B, Morris SS, Sachdev HP, Shekar M; Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group. What works? Interventions for maternal and child undernutrition and survival. Lancet. 2008 Feb 2;371(9610):417-40. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61693-6.
PubMed 18206226Kar BR, Rao SL, Chandramouli BA. Cognitive development in children with chronic protein energy malnutrition. Behav Brain Funct. 2008 Jul 24;4:31. doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-4-31.
PubMed 18652660Martorell R, Horta BL, Adair LS, Stein AD, Richter L, Fall CH, Bhargava SK, Biswas SK, Perez L, Barros FC, Victora CG; Consortium on Health Orientated Research in Transitional Societies Group. Weight gain in the first two years of life is an important predictor of schooling outcomes in pooled analyses from five birth cohorts from low- and middle-income countries. J Nutr. 2010 Feb;140(2):348-54. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.112300. Epub 2009 Dec 9.
PubMed 20007336Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L, Strupp B; International Child Development Steering Group. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. Lancet. 2007 Jan 6;369(9555):60-70. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60032-4.
PubMed 17208643Victora CG, Adair L, Fall C, Hallal PC, Martorell R, Richter L, Sachdev HS; Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group. Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital. Lancet. 2008 Jan 26;371(9609):340-57. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61692-4.
PubMed 18206223Thomas D, Strauss J. Health and wages: evidence on men and women in urban Brazil. J Econom. 1997;77:159-85. doi: 10.1016/s0304-4076(96)01811-8.
PubMed 12292719Imdad A, Bhutta ZA. Effects of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, fetal and birth outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012 Jul;26 Suppl 1:138-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01274.x.
PubMed 22742607Lassi ZS, Das JK, Zahid G, Imdad A, Bhutta ZA. Impact of education and provision of complementary feeding on growth and morbidity in children less than 2 years of age in developing countries: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2013;13 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-S3-S13. Epub 2013 Sep 17.
PubMed 24564534Mangasaryan N, Martin L, Brownlee A, Ogunlade A, Rudert C, Cai X. Breastfeeding promotion, support and protection: review of six country programmes. Nutrients. 2012 Aug;4(8):990-1014. doi: 10.3390/nu4080990. Epub 2012 Aug 14.
PubMed 23016128Baqui AH, El-Arifeen S, Darmstadt GL, Ahmed S, Williams EK, Seraji HR, Mannan I, Rahman SM, Shah R, Saha SK, Syed U, Winch PJ, Lefevre A, Santosham M, Black RE; Projahnmo Study Group. Effect of community-based newborn-care intervention package implemented through two service-delivery strategies in Sylhet district, Bangladesh: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2008 Jun 7;371(9628):1936-44. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60835-1.
PubMed 18539225Akter SM, Roy SK, Thakur SK, Sultana M, Khatun W, Rahman R, Saliheen SS, Alam N. Effects of third trimester counseling on pregnancy weight gain, birthweight, and breastfeeding among urban poor women in Bangladesh. Food Nutr Bull. 2012 Sep;33(3):194-201. doi: 10.1177/156482651203300304.
PubMed 23156122Ara G, Sanin KI, Khanam M, Sarker SA, Khan SS, Rifat M, Chowdhury IA, Askari S, Afsana K, Ahmed T. Study protocol to assess the impact of an integrated nutrition intervention on the growth and development of children under two in rural Bangladesh. BMC Public Health. 2019 Nov 1;19(1):1437. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7777-y.
PubMed 31675943
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Mar 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Community-based Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Different Bundles of Nutrition-specific Interventions in Improving Mean Length-for-age Z Score Among Children at 24 Months of Age in Rural Bangladesh
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02768181
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PR-14124
- Conditions
- Stunting in Under-2 Children
- Keywords
- nutrition-specific behaviour change communication, dietary supplements
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 2,880 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, BangladeshUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Department for International Development, United Kingdom, International Food Policy Research Institute, University of Sydney, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
- Study start
- Nov 2015
- Primary completion
- Jan 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 May 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background:
- Burden: The prevalence of stunting among the under-five children in Bangladesh was >55% in 1997, which reduced to 41.9% in 2011. This reduction took 14 years to achieve with existing interventions, and till today Bangladesh remains among the countries with the highest stunting prevalence.
- Knowledge gap: In the Lancet series on Maternal and Child Nutrition, Bhutta et al (2013) modelled the effect of 10 direct interventions on lives saved and economic costs in 34 countries which contains 90% of the children with stunted growth. Their findings suggested that at 90% coverage, these interventions could cut down under-5 year mortality by 15% and avert one-fifth of stunting. The total additional annual cost was estimated at $9.6 billion. There is a dearth of primary research, however, to determine a feasible, effective bundle of interventions for developing countries.
- Relevance: This study will review and test different sets of nutrition-specific intervention bundles in a cohort of pregnant women and the subsequent impact on the length-for-age Z score (LAZ) of their offspring from that pregnancy.
Hypothesis: Five selected nutrition-specific interventions implemented during early pregnancy and during first two years of child's life in different bundles will cause a shift of 0.4 in mean LAZ score among children at 24 months of age compared to those in comparison arm.
Methods: The investigators propose a community-based randomized trial (cRCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of the five selected nutrition-specific interventions and identify the best combination for improving childhood LAZ. Selected interventions include prenatal nutrient supplementation; intensive counselling on prenatal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding and timely complementary feeding; and nutrient supplementation during 6-23 months of child's age. The proposed study area is Habiganj district, Sylhet division. 125 clusters (each ~2000 population or ~450 households) will be selected from 12 homogeneous unions in 2 adjacent sub-districts. The clusters will then be randomly assigned to any one of the 5 study arms. Data would be collected at baseline and followed up, including on nutritional intake and anthropometric measurements of mothers and offspring. Primary outcome measure/variable would be mean LAZ of offspring at 24 months. Secondary outcome variables include nutritional intake during pregnancy, maternal weight gain, exclusive breast feeding up-to 6 months, and birth weight.
Implications: The investigators expect that the results will serve to inform and shape future health policy decisions related to promotion of maternal and child health.
Detailed description
Research Design and Methods
The investigators propose a community-based cluster randomized trial (cRCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of 5 selected prenatal and post-natal nutrition-specific interventions in improving mean LAZ scores among 24 months old children. The interventions to be tested in different combinations are-:
- Prenatal nutrition-specific counselling
- Prenatal nutrient supplementation
- Intensive counselling of exclusive breast-feeding during postnatal first six months
- Nutrient supplementation for children during 6-23 months of age with continued breastfeeding
- Complementary feeding counselling. The three counselling interventions (Behaviour change communication, BCC) will be universal in all intervention arms and the two types of supplementation will be provided in different combinations explained elsewhere. This design will allow testing for synergy, and help to determine the effect size of selected individual interventions, such as evaluating how much effect supplementation (for mother and/or child) would have on improving length-for-age z score (LAZ).
The cohort of pregnant women and their children from that pregnancy will be followed-up over 32 months of the intervention period.
Sample Size Calculation
Power-based sample size estimation procedure was adopted. Assumptions used in sample size calculation include:
- Mean LAZ for 18-23 month old children in comparison arm is -2.0 with standard deviation 1 (BDHS 2011)
- Expected effect size of 0.4 shift in mean LAZ score in intervention arms compared to comparison.
- 80% power, 5% alpha, ratio between 4 intervention and 1 comparison arms is 1:1:1:1:1.
- Intra-cluster correlation coefficient is 0.06 (BDHS 2011).
- Non response and lost-to-follow up 30% Using SATA clustersampsi command, sample size per study arm is calculated as 175 children of 18-24 months age. 7 children in each of 25 clusters (~2000 population each) would be followed up from ~125 days of gestational age to postnatal 24 months. The sample size in comparison arm will be doubled for analysing some secondary indicators.
Study setting The study will be conducted in the Habiganj district, Sylhet division for the reported highest stunting prevalence in Bangladesh. The investigators will select 12 Unions (population ~300,000) randomly from two adjacent sub-districts. Each Union would be divided into clusters, each cluster comprising of ~450 households or ~2000 population. In selected 125 study clusters, 10 and 20 pregnant women in each intervention and comparison cluster would be enrolled, respectively, and enrolment would be closed accordingly. Considering estimated live births per year at 21/1000 population, expected number of 24 months old children from each cluster by study completion would be 7, after adjusting for 4.5% mortality in postnatal two years and 30% drop-out. Thus, 25 clusters per study arm would yield 175 and 350 children per intervention comparison arms, respectively, reaching their second birthday, the required number of samples for the trial.
Treatment assignment The investigators will randomly select 5 clusters or multiples of 5 clusters per union, 125 clusters in total, by a computer assisted programme. In each union, the selected clusters will be evenly allocated to the 5 study arms, specified by a random allocation sequence generated by a computer assisted programme.
Recruitment of participants Pregnant women in the study area would be listed through a door-to-door surveillance conducted fortnightly. From them, those within 125 gestational age would be voluntarily enrolled into the study upon confirmation by pregnancy strip tests.
Post-enrolment study procedure:
After enrolment, two teams would be active: 1) The intervention team in intervention arms (arms 1, 2, 3 and 4); and 2) The assessment team in all 5 arms. Both teams would be supervised and monitored by two layers of field supervisors.
- The intervention team Interventions will be implemented by a trained team of Community Health Workers (CHWs), supervised by Field Supervisors (FSs), all locally recruited. After staff recruitment, the CHWs and the FSs would be trained by master trainers of nutrition-specific BCC, with rigorous field practices, before formally commencing to deliver intervention.
- The assessment team An independent team of data collectors (DCs) will be recruited locally and trained by the central team for data collection. The enrolment DC team will collect baseline and follow up data.
Project Management Information System (MIS) A comprehensive automated project MIS will be developed through web linked tablet-PC-based pregnancy enrolment, data collection and intervention delivery format. The android-based customised platform will direct the CHWs and enrolment DCs of their intervention and data collection visit schedules, respectively, and will also contain the BCC modules and the questionnaires as required.
Data collection All data collection tools are adopted from standard validated structured questionnaire, especially from BDHS. Key indicators to be reported and tools to be used are showed in table 2.
- Baseline characteristics: Demographic, Socio-economic, reproductive information and household food security of participant women will be collected with a structured questionnaire during enrolment into the trial.
- Nutritional intake of pregnant and lactating women: Nutritional intake (energy and protein) of mothers will be assessed by an open 24-hour recall form at enrolment, 6th and 9th months of pregnancy and 3rd, 12th, 18th months of lactation period.
- Nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women: Anthropometric measurements will be collected to assess initial nutritional status and subsequent weight gain during pregnancy. Weight, height and MUAC of pregnant women will be measured at enrolment, with weight and MUAC measured again at 6th and 8th month of pregnancy, and postnatal follow-up visits. Weight will be measured using an electronic weighing scale of Tanita with a precision of 100 gm. Surgical and medical product (NSW, Australia) height measuring scale will be used for measuring height of pregnant women. MUAC would be measured with a standardised MUAC tape for adults.
- Nutritional intake of children: Nutritional intake and feeding practice of infants will be measured on the 7th day of birth, then 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. WHO-recommended IYCF indicators would be addressed, i.e. early initiation of breastfeeding, pre-lacteal feeding, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age of the children. 24-hour and 7-day dietary recall would assess the information.
- Anthropometric measurements of children: Birth weight will be collected within 24 hours of live birth, measured using an electronic weighing scale preferably SECA (Hamburg, Germany) with a precision on 10g. Length of newborns will be measured using locally made collapsible length boards with 1mm precision. These measurements will continue on 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of birth.
- Supplement compliance: The compliance form is a structured questionnaire on respondents' attitude and practice towards the ante-natal and complementary food supplements provided to them.
All measurement equipment would be calibrated before each use.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 5
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1: BCC+PNS+CNS | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Dietary Supplement: Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS), Dietary Supplement: Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 yearsPregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth, along with a lipid-based nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) till delivery. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children, along with a lipid-based nutrient supplement for children (CNS) aged 6m to 2 years. |
| Arm 2: BCC+PNS | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Dietary Supplement: Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS)Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth, along with nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) till delivery. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children. |
| Arm 3: BCC+CNS | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Dietary Supplement: Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 yearsPregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children, along with nutrient supplement to children (CNS) 6m to 2 years. |
| Arm 4: BCC only | Experimental | Behavioral: Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC)Pregnant women receive nutrition-specific behaviour change communication (BCC) counselling on health, nutrition, hygiene etc during pregnancy and on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) till 6 months of children's birth. After birth, counselling continues on EBF, on nutrition of lactating mothers, and on health and associated issues of mothers and children. From 6 months of children's age, counselling is covered on timely complementary feeding and continued breastfeeding till 2 years of age, nutrition of lactating mother, health other associated issues of mothers and children. |
| Arm 5: comparison | No intervention | –No intervention will be provided by the study. The existing services delivered though government health systems will be continued. Government /NGO-led routine counseling and supplementary services available at Upazila and union levels, which include prenatal counseling, exclusive breastfeeding counseling, and maternal iron-folic acid supplementation and vitamin-A supplementation for children will continue. However, assessment of outcomes will be conducted in same frequency and schedule, alike in intervention arms, described in data collection section. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 49 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- All new pregnancies in the selected clusters
- Eligible woman is resident of the study area
- Gestational age ≤125 days
- Possible pregnant woman can identify her last menstrual period (LMP)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Similar nutrition interventions currently being implemented by either public or non-government agency in the selected cluster
- The cluster is too hard to reach and accessibility of the cluster is highly constrained by geographical impediments
- The cluster includes tea gardens. Communities in tea gardens comprise of unique ethnicity, culture and lifestyle for which our intervention is not customized
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC)Door-to-door counseling on nutrition during pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding from enrolment into study till birth; exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition of lactating mothers during post-natal 6 months; timely and appropriate complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding until 2 years of child's age, and nutrition of lactating mothers during post-natal 6-24 months; all counseling would be supplemented with associated issues including hygiene and sanitation, mother's sleep and rest, maternal and child healthcare seeking etc. | Behavioural | Arm 1: BCC+PNS+CNS, Arm 2: BCC+PNS, Arm 3: BCC+CNS, Arm 4: BCC only |
| Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS)A lipid-based micronutrient supplement (LNS) is packed in ~10g sachets. Formulation: Vegetable fat (soy), skimmed milk powder, peanuts, vitamin and mineral complex, sugar, stabilizer: fully hydrogenated vegetable fat, and antioxidant : tocopherols. Each sachet contains 70-75% of recommended dietary allowance for most of the micronutrients, including iron, folic acid, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, B1, B2, niacin, B12 etc. Dose: 1 sachet/pregnant woman/day starting from the first counseling session (GA ~125∓15 days) continued till birth of baby. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. To avoid overdose, respondents receiving this supplement should stop taking any other micronutrient supplement or drink. | Dietary supplement | Arm 1: BCC+PNS+CNS, Arm 2: BCC+PNS |
| Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 yearsA lipid-based micronutrient supplement (LNS) is packed in ~10g sachets. Formulation: Vegetable fat, skimmed milk powder, peanuts, sugar, vitamin and mineral complex, maltodextrin, and emulsifier: lecithin. Each sachet contains 70-75% of recommended dietary allowance for most of the micronutrients, including iron, folic acid, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, B1, B2, niacin, B12 etc. Each 20 g of LNS provide ≥4.46g LA (Linoleic Acid) and ≥0.42g ALA (α-Linolenic Acid). Dose: 2 sachets ~(10+10=20g)/child/day from 5th completed months (181 days) to 24 completed months of child's age. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. Supplement should be taken with food in room temperature, and must not be heated, or mixed with hot food. To avoid overdose, respondents receiving this supplement should stop taking any other micronutrient supplement or drink. | Dietary supplement | Arm 1: BCC+PNS+CNS, Arm 3: BCC+CNS |
Primary outcome
Change in Length-for-age Z scores (LAZ) at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline LAZ at 7 days of birth.
Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Method of outcome assessment: Length measurement of study child
8 secondary outcomes
Nutritional intake (energy and protein) of pregnant women in intervention and comparison arms
Time frame: ~125 days of gestation till birth delivery
Early initiation of breastfeeding in intervention and comparison arms
Time frame: Birth delivery
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates up-to six months in intervention and comparison arms
Time frame: Birth delivery to 6 months of child's age (180 days)
Maternal weight gain during pregnancy in intervention and comparison arms
Time frame: ~125 days of gestation till birth delivery
Birth weight of live newborns in intervention compared to comparison clusters
Time frame: Birth delivery
IYCF practices (age-appropriate complementary feeding along with continued breastfeeding until postnatal 2 years) among the intervention and comparison arms
Time frame: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Change in weight-for-length Z scores (WLZ) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline WLZ at 7 days of birth.
Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Change in weight-for-age Z scores (WAZ) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline WAZ at 7 days of birth.
Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Mar 2019.
- Background: PubMed 23746776Bhutta ZA, Das JK, Rizvi A, Gaffey MF, Walker N, Horton S, Webb P, Lartey A, Black RE; Lancet Nutrition Interventions Review Group, the Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group. Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition: what can be done and at what cost? Lancet. 2013 Aug 3;382(9890):452-477. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60996-4. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
- Background: PubMed 23746772Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, Bhutta ZA, Christian P, de Onis M, Ezzati M, Grantham-McGregor S, Katz J, Martorell R, Uauy R; Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet. 2013 Aug 3;382(9890):427-451. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
- Background: PubMed 22579125Liu L, Johnson HL, Cousens S, Perin J, Scott S, Lawn JE, Rudan I, Campbell H, Cibulskis R, Li M, Mathers C, Black RE; Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group of WHO and UNICEF. Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000. Lancet. 2012 Jun 9;379(9832):2151-61. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60560-1. Epub 2012 May 11.
- Background: PubMed 18206226Bhutta ZA, Ahmed T, Black RE, Cousens S, Dewey K, Giugliani E, Haider BA, Kirkwood B, Morris SS, Sachdev HP, Shekar M; Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group. What works? Interventions for maternal and child undernutrition and survival. Lancet. 2008 Feb 2;371(9610):417-40. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61693-6.
- Background: PubMed 18652660Kar BR, Rao SL, Chandramouli BA. Cognitive development in children with chronic protein energy malnutrition. Behav Brain Funct. 2008 Jul 24;4:31. doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-4-31.
- Background: PubMed 20007336Martorell R, Horta BL, Adair LS, Stein AD, Richter L, Fall CH, Bhargava SK, Biswas SK, Perez L, Barros FC, Victora CG; Consortium on Health Orientated Research in Transitional Societies Group. Weight gain in the first two years of life is an important predictor of schooling outcomes in pooled analyses from five birth cohorts from low- and middle-income countries. J Nutr. 2010 Feb;140(2):348-54. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.112300. Epub 2009 Dec 9.
- Background: PubMed 17208643Grantham-McGregor S, Cheung YB, Cueto S, Glewwe P, Richter L, Strupp B; International Child Development Steering Group. Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. Lancet. 2007 Jan 6;369(9555):60-70. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60032-4.
- Background: PubMed 18206223Victora CG, Adair L, Fall C, Hallal PC, Martorell R, Richter L, Sachdev HS; Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group. Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital. Lancet. 2008 Jan 26;371(9609):340-57. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61692-4.
- Background: PubMed 12292719Thomas D, Strauss J. Health and wages: evidence on men and women in urban Brazil. J Econom. 1997;77:159-85. doi: 10.1016/s0304-4076(96)01811-8.
- Background: PubMed 22742607Imdad A, Bhutta ZA. Effects of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, fetal and birth outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012 Jul;26 Suppl 1:138-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01274.x.
- Background: PubMed 24564534Lassi ZS, Das JK, Zahid G, Imdad A, Bhutta ZA. Impact of education and provision of complementary feeding on growth and morbidity in children less than 2 years of age in developing countries: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2013;13 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-S3-S13. Epub 2013 Sep 17.
- Background: PubMed 23016128Mangasaryan N, Martin L, Brownlee A, Ogunlade A, Rudert C, Cai X. Breastfeeding promotion, support and protection: review of six country programmes. Nutrients. 2012 Aug;4(8):990-1014. doi: 10.3390/nu4080990. Epub 2012 Aug 14.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nutrition-specific Behaviour change communication (BCC), Nutrient supplement to pregnant women (PNS) and Nutrienr supplement to children 6m to 2 years in people with Stunting in Under-2 Children, run by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh at 1 site in Bangladesh.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Mar 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Bangladesh. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Length-for-age Z scores (LAZ) at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months age of children in intervention vs. comparison arms, compared to the baseline LAZ at 7 days of birth. (time frame: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months of child's age). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02768181, which also lists 16 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Mar 2019.