Acute Malnutrition, SevereR-SWITCHNCT06380504
Increasing the Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Treatment in Ethiopia
A study testing R-SWITCH integrated intervention package in people with Acute Malnutrition, Severe and Malnutrition, Child, run by International Food Policy Research Institute at 1 site in Ethiopia.
Trial summary
The R-SWITCH intervention aims to address the low coverage of treatment for severe wasting (SAM) by leveraging existing community groups to deliver an integrated package focused on prevention, screening, referral, and treatment of SAM. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 months to 5 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Acute Malnutrition, Severe, Malnutrition, Child, Wasting
- What is being tested?
- R-SWITCH integrated intervention package
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,080 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEthiopia
- Study dates
- 2 May 2024to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 6 months to 5 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Child 6-59 months of age
- Suffering from SAM (defined as MUAC < 115mm or presence of bilateral pitting edema or Weight-for-Length Z-score <-3) OR currently enrolled in SAM OTP
Who cannot join
- Anthropometric malformation or being handicapped which hampers anthropometric measurements.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Alemayehu Haddis, PhD contact
Ethiopia1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Kersa and Jeldessa woredas
Jimma
Lieven Huybregts, PhD
Tefera Belachew, PhD
About this study
Official title: Effect of Leveraging Community-level Structures to Strengthen Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Ethiopia
The R-SWITCH intervention aims to address the low coverage of treatment for severe wasting (SAM) by leveraging existing community groups to deliver an integrated package focused on prevention, screening, referral, and treatment of SAM. It includes behavior change communication on child nutrition and health, active screening, improved passive screening at health posts, and follow-up of referred cases and those enrolled in outpatient treatment programs (OTP). The primary objectives of the R-SWITCH studies are to assess the intervention's impact on OTP coverage, identify implementation barriers and facilitators, and evaluate its cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Read the detailed description
Despite the high mortality risk of severe wasting (also referred to as severe acute malnutrition or SAM), only a small proportion of children with severe wasting are currently identified and admitted to available outpatient treatment programs (OTP). In 2020, an estimated 4.9 million children with severe wasting received treatment, approximately a third of the total burden. Outside of humanitarian settings, this proportion is even lower (estimated to be around 15%). These figures highlight the urgent need to increase treatment coverage to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to reduce the prevalence of child wasting to less than 5% by 2025 and less than 3% by 2030. The continuum of care for SAM, from case identification, referral to treatment, and post-treatment follow-up, is hampered by several barriers including caregiver lack of awareness on the risks and treatment services of SAM, stigma related to SAM, poor accessibility to treatment, frequent stockouts of treatment inputs, and the overall workload faced by first-line health workers.
The R-SWITCH intervention will leverage existing community groups to deliver an integrated package aimed at preventing SAM through behavior change communication (BCC) on child nutrition and health, increasing wasting screening coverage through active screening, family-led MUAC and improved passive screening health posts, increasing treatment coverage through follow-up of earlier referred cases, cases enrolled in OTP, and children who completed OTP and recovered.
The primary objectives of the R-SWITCH studies are:
- To assess the impact of the R-SWITCH intervention on SAM OTP coverage
- To identify implementation barriers and facilitators
- To assess the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the intervention package and services
- Conditions
- Acute Malnutrition, Severe, Malnutrition, Child, Wasting
- Being tested
- R-SWITCH integrated intervention package
- Keywords
- Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program, Treatment, Screening, Wasting, Severe acute malnutrition
- Medical subject headings
- Severe Acute Malnutrition, Child Nutrition Disorders, Cachexia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
R-SWITCH integrated intervention packageBehavioural
- Monthly group meetings of Alliance for Development (AFD) community groups) and their members (caregivers of children 0-59 months of age):
- Introduction and refresher of Family-led MUAC
- Active screening of wasting by AFD
- Group SBCC on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) with a focus on SAM
- Promotion of health services such as GMP
- Introduction of weight-for-age Z-score <-3 as screening criterion for passive screening by health extension workers at any contact with children (e.g. during GMP)
- Promotion of Family-led MUAC screening and SAM awareness to fathers during male agricultural/pastoralist extension activities and by community and religious leaders (creating social support)
- Follow-up and counselling during home visits by AFD leaders of i) earlier referred cases of SAM, ii) cases enrolled in SAM OTP, iii) and recovered SAM cases discharged from OTP
- Strengthening communication between HEW and AFDs
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care | No intervention | * Usual screening of wasting by health extension workers (HEW) using MUAC * Previous introduction of Family-led MUAC (not maintained) * Behavior Change Communication (BCC) offered by Health extension worker (low intensity) * Treatment of SAM at health post or health center * Follow-up of SAM OTP defaults through home visits by HEW (very low intensity) |
| R-SWITCH integrated intervention package | Experimental | 1. Monthly group meetings of AFD community groups
2. Introduction of weight-for-age Z-score <-3 as an additional screening criterion
3. Promotion of Family-led MUAC screening and SAM awareness to fathers, community and religious leaders
4. Follow-up and counselling during home visits by AFD leaders
5. Strengthening communication between HEW and AFDs Receives: Behavioral: R-SWITCH integrated intervention package |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Period prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in children 6-59 months of age
Defined as the proportion of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or enrolled in the SAM Outpatient Therapeutic program (OTP) that are "under treatment".
- SAM is defined as a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference <115mm or a weight-for-height Z-score <-3 (relative to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards) or presence of bilateral pitting edema.
- "Under treatment" is defined as:
- the caregiver acknowledging the child is enrolled in a SAM OTP AND
- the child was fed ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) over the last three days AND
- the caregiver can either show at least one full RUTF sachet OR more than one empty RUTF sachet.
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Secondary outcomes (33)
Point prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in children 6-59 months of age
Defined as the proportion of children with SAM at the time of the survey that are under treatment (see definition under primary outcome
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Period prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in the subgroup of treatment eligible children 6-59 months of age
Defined as the proportion of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or Severe underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <-3) or enrolled in the SAM Outpatient Therapeutic program (OTP) that are "under treatment".
- SAM is defined as a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference <115mm or a weight-for-height Z-score <-3 (relative to the WHO 2006 growth standards) or presence of bilateral pitting edema.
- "Under treatment" is defined as:
- the caregiver acknowledging the child is enrolled in a SAM OTP AND
- the child was fed ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) over the last three days AND
- the caregiver can either show at least one full RUTF sachet OR more than one empty RUTF sachet.
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Screening coverage of SAM
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with SAM screened for wasting over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver)
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Screening coverage of severe underweight
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with severe underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <-3 relative to WHO 2006 growth standard) screened over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver)
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Platform specific screening coverage of SAM
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with SAM screened for wasting over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver):
- by Family-led MUAC ( screening by family members using a MUAC tape)
- during growth monitor promotion (GMP) consultations
- during Integrated management of childhood illness consultations
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Growth Monitoring Promotion (GMP) consultation attendance
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with SAM that attended GMP over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver).
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
AFD group meeting attendance
Defined as the proportion of of children aged 6-59 months with SAM that attended the monthly AFD group contact over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver).
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
AFD home visit coverage
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with SAM and children enrolled in SAM OTP that received a home visit by an AFD leader/member over the last 30 days (as reported by the caregiver).
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of SAM
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with SAM (defined as WHZ <-3 or a MUAC < 115 mm or the presence of bilateral pitting edema). To calculate WHZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of wasting
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with wasting (defined as WHZ <-2 or a MUAC < 125 mm or the presence of bilateral pitting edema). To calculate WHZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of stunting
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with stunting (defined as height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) <-2 or a MUAC < 125 mm or the presence of bilateral pitting edema). To calculate HAZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of underweight and severe underweight
Defined as the proportion of children aged 6-59 months with underweight (defined as weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) <-2 ) and severe underweight (defined as WAZ <-3 ). To calculate WAZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean height-for-age Z-score (HAZ)
In 6-59 months old children. To calculate HAZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ)
In 6-59 months old children.To calculate WHZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ)
In 6-59 months old children.To calculate WAZ scores the 2006 WHO growth reference will be used
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
In 6-59 months old children.
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Caregiver's knowledge related to breastfeeding, complementary feeding,child health and hygiene, the condition of severe acute malnutrition, outpatient therapeutic programs, screening of wasting
Presented as a total standardized score and by knowledge domain
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Vaccination coverage
Proportion of children aged 6-18 months with SAM or enrolled in SAM OTP who received all age-recommended immunizations
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Introduction of (semi) solid and soft complementary foods
The proportion of children 6-8 months of age who consumed (semi) solid and soft complementary foods during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum dietary diversity in infants and young children (6-23 mo)
The proportion of study children aged 6-23 months who consumed at least 5 of the 8 food groups (including breast milk) during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Nr of food groups consumed by infants and young children (6-59 mo)
The mean number of food groups consumed during the previous day by study children aged 6-59
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum meal frequency in infants and young children
Defined as the proportion of study children who had eaten during the previous day: 2 meals for breastfed children 6-8 months, 3 meals for breastfed children 9-23 months, or 4 meals for non-breastfed children 6-23 monthsMinimum meal frequency for children, defined as the proportion of children who had eaten the day before the survey: 2 meals for breastfed children 6-8 months, 3 meals for breastfed children 9-23 months, or 4 meals for non-breastfed children 6-23 months.
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum acceptable diet in infants and young children
Defined as the proportion of study children aged 6-23 months with both minimal dietary diversity and minimal meal frequency during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Continuous breastfeeding 12-23 months
Defined as the proportion of children aged 12-23 months breastfed during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Egg and/or flesh food consumption
Proportion of children 6-23 months of age who consumed egg and/or flesh food during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Sweet beverage consumption
Proportion of children 6-23 months of age who consumed a sweet beverage during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Zero vegetable or fruit consumption consumption
Proportion of children 6-23 months of age who did not consume any vegetables or fruits during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum milk feeding frequency for non-breastfed children
Proportion of non-breastfed children 6-23 months of age who consumed at least two milk feeds during the previous day
Measured: After 24 months of program implementation
Weight-for-length Z-score and MUAC at Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding program (OTP)
Weight-for-length Z-score (relative to the 2006 WHO reference) and MUAC(mm)
Measured: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP adherence
Defined as the proportion of cases enrolled to SAM OTP who received timely treatment from dedicated services (health center or health post) until anthropometric recovery
Measured: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
Weight gain rate during SAM OTP
Defined as the weight gain during SAM OTP divided by the length of treatment and divided by the child's weight
Measured: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP outcomes (drop-out, death, transfer, non-response rates)
Among cases admitted to SAM OTP
Measured: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP duration
Defined as the number of days spent in SAM OTP (from admission to discharge)
Measured: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Apr 2024
- Study start2 May 2024
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Acute Malnutrition, SevereStudies 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
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Cluster randomized controlled trial. Unit/cluster of assignment is health post catchment area. Parallel Assignment: baseline-endline design
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,080 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- International Food Policy Research Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ethiopian Public Health Association, UNICEF
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Lieven Huybregts, PhD, Principal investigator, International Food Policy Research InstituteTefera Belachew, PhD, Principal investigator, Ethiopian Public Health Association
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06380504
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RSWITCH-Ethiopia
- Acronym
- R-SWITCH
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Apr 2024
- Last updated
- 24 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Biru B, Huybregts L, Tamiru D, Areb M, Haddis A, Fall T, Toure M, Belachew T. Barriers and Factors Associated With Treatment Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition Among Children 6-59 Months in Agrarian and Pastoralist Areas of Ethiopia. Matern Child Nutr. 2026 Jul;22(3):e70219. doi: 10.1111/mcn.70219.
PubMed 42381597
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Leveraging Community-level Structures to Strengthen Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Ethiopia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06380504
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R-SWITCH / RSWITCH-Ethiopia
- Conditions
- Acute Malnutrition, Severe, Malnutrition, Child, Wasting
- Keywords
- Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program, Treatment, Screening, Wasting, Severe acute malnutrition
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,080 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- International Food Policy Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ethiopian Public Health Association, UNICEF
- Study start
- 2 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Apr 2024 (actual)
- 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.
The R-SWITCH intervention aims to address the low coverage of treatment for severe wasting (SAM) by leveraging existing community groups to deliver an integrated package focused on prevention, screening, referral, and treatment of SAM. It includes behavior change communication on child nutrition and health, active screening, improved passive screening at health posts, and follow-up of referred cases and those enrolled in outpatient treatment programs (OTP). The primary objectives of the R-SWITCH studies are to assess the intervention's impact on OTP coverage, identify implementation barriers and facilitators, and evaluate its cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Detailed description
Despite the high mortality risk of severe wasting (also referred to as severe acute malnutrition or SAM), only a small proportion of children with severe wasting are currently identified and admitted to available outpatient treatment programs (OTP). In 2020, an estimated 4.9 million children with severe wasting received treatment, approximately a third of the total burden. Outside of humanitarian settings, this proportion is even lower (estimated to be around 15%). These figures highlight the urgent need to increase treatment coverage to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to reduce the prevalence of child wasting to less than 5% by 2025 and less than 3% by 2030. The continuum of care for SAM, from case identification, referral to treatment, and post-treatment follow-up, is hampered by several barriers including caregiver lack of awareness on the risks and treatment services of SAM, stigma related to SAM, poor accessibility to treatment, frequent stockouts of treatment inputs, and the overall workload faced by first-line health workers.
The R-SWITCH intervention will leverage existing community groups to deliver an integrated package aimed at preventing SAM through behavior change communication (BCC) on child nutrition and health, increasing wasting screening coverage through active screening, family-led MUAC and improved passive screening health posts, increasing treatment coverage through follow-up of earlier referred cases, cases enrolled in OTP, and children who completed OTP and recovered.
The primary objectives of the R-SWITCH studies are:
- To assess the impact of the R-SWITCH intervention on SAM OTP coverage
- To identify implementation barriers and facilitators
- To assess the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the intervention package and services
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Cluster randomized controlled trial. Unit/cluster of assignment is health post catchment area. Parallel Assignment: baseline-endline design
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard of Care | No intervention | –* Usual screening of wasting by health extension workers (HEW) using MUAC * Previous introduction of Family-led MUAC (not maintained) * Behavior Change Communication (BCC) offered by Health extension worker (low intensity) * Treatment of SAM at health post or health center * Follow-up of SAM OTP defaults through home visits by HEW (very low intensity) |
| R-SWITCH integrated intervention package | Experimental | Behavioral: R-SWITCH integrated intervention package1. Monthly group meetings of AFD community groups 2. Introduction of weight-for-age Z-score <-3 as an additional screening criterion 3. Promotion of Family-led MUAC screening and SAM awareness to fathers, community and religious leaders 4. Follow-up and counselling during home visits by AFD leaders 5. Strengthening communication between HEW and AFDs |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 months to 5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Child 6-59 months of age
- Suffering from SAM (defined as MUAC < 115mm or presence of bilateral pitting edema or Weight-for-Length Z-score <-3) OR currently enrolled in SAM OTP
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Anthropometric malformation or being handicapped which hampers anthropometric measurements.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| R-SWITCH integrated intervention package1. Monthly group meetings of Alliance for Development (AFD) community groups) and their members (caregivers of children 0-59 months of age): * Introduction and refresher of Family-led MUAC * Active screening of wasting by AFD * Group SBCC on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) with a focus on SAM * Promotion of health services such as GMP 2. Introduction of weight-for-age Z-score <-3 as screening criterion for passive screening by health extension workers at any contact with children (e.g. during GMP) 3. Promotion of Family-led MUAC screening and SAM awareness to fathers during male agricultural/pastoralist extension activities and by community and religious leaders (creating social support) 4. Follow-up and counselling during home visits by AFD leaders of i) earlier referred cases of SAM, ii) cases enrolled in SAM OTP, iii) and recovered SAM cases discharged from OTP 5. Strengthening communication between HEW and AFDs | Behavioural | R-SWITCH integrated intervention package |
Primary outcome
Period prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in children 6-59 months of age
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Defined as the proportion of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or enrolled in the SAM Outpatient Therapeutic program (OTP) that are "under treatment". * SAM is defined as a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference <115mm or a weight-for-height Z-score <-3 (relative to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards) or presence of bilateral pitting edema. * "Under treatment" is defined as: * the caregiver acknowledging the child is enrolled in a SAM OTP AND * the child was fed ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) over the last three days AND * the caregiver can either show at least one full RUTF sachet OR more than one empty RUTF sachet.
33 secondary outcomes
Point prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in children 6-59 months of age
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Period prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in the subgroup of treatment eligible children 6-59 months of age
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Screening coverage of SAM
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Screening coverage of severe underweight
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Platform specific screening coverage of SAM
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Growth Monitoring Promotion (GMP) consultation attendance
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
AFD group meeting attendance
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
AFD home visit coverage
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of SAM
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of wasting
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of stunting
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Prevalence of underweight and severe underweight
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean height-for-age Z-score (HAZ)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Mean mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Caregiver's knowledge related to breastfeeding, complementary feeding,child health and hygiene, the condition of severe acute malnutrition, outpatient therapeutic programs, screening of wasting
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Vaccination coverage
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Introduction of (semi) solid and soft complementary foods
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum dietary diversity in infants and young children (6-23 mo)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Nr of food groups consumed by infants and young children (6-59 mo)
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum meal frequency in infants and young children
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum acceptable diet in infants and young children
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Continuous breastfeeding 12-23 months
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Egg and/or flesh food consumption
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Sweet beverage consumption
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Zero vegetable or fruit consumption consumption
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Minimum milk feeding frequency for non-breastfed children
Time frame: After 24 months of program implementation
Weight-for-length Z-score and MUAC at Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding program (OTP)
Time frame: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP adherence
Time frame: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
Weight gain rate during SAM OTP
Time frame: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP outcomes (drop-out, death, transfer, non-response rates)
Time frame: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
SAM OTP duration
Time frame: 24 months from baseline until endline of the study
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Sep 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42381597Biru B, Huybregts L, Tamiru D, Areb M, Haddis A, Fall T, Toure M, Belachew T. Barriers and Factors Associated With Treatment Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition Among Children 6-59 Months in Agrarian and Pastoralist Areas of Ethiopia. Matern Child Nutr. 2026 Jul;22(3):e70219. doi: 10.1111/mcn.70219.
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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.
Alemayehu Haddis, PhD contact
Lieven Huybregts, PhD principal investigator
International Food Policy Research Institute
Tefera Belachew, PhD principal investigator
Ethiopian Public Health Association
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing R-SWITCH integrated intervention package in people with Acute Malnutrition, Severe and Malnutrition, Child, run by International Food Policy Research Institute at 1 site in Ethiopia.
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 2 inclusion and 1 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Sep 2026. 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 Ethiopia. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Lieven Huybregts, PhD (202 862-6481 ext. +1, l.huybregts@cgiar.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Period prevalence of SAM OTP treatment coverage in children 6-59 months of age (time frame: After 24 months of program implementation). 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 NCT06380504, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 24 Sep 2026.