| Protocol No: | ECCT/19/04/04 | Date of Protocol: | 11-04-2019 |
| Study Title: | Effectiveness of an integrated programme to reduce maternal and child malnutrition in Kenya:two cluster-randomized controlled trials in pregnant women and their offspring and in 6-59 months old children comparing an agricultural intervention alone with a combined agricultural, nutrition and WASH intervention.
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| Study Objectives: |
To assess the impact on growth and micronutrient status of an integrated programme by introducing nutrition-specific (e.g. micronutrient supplements) and nutrition-sensitive (improved water, sanitation and hygiene, e.g. chlorine, soap) components to an existing agricultural programme.
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| Laymans Summary: | The present project will use the One Acre Fund (1AF) agriculture platform to add nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to the agricultural intervention already in place in western Kenya.
In partnership with the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), 1AF aims to introduce nutritionsensitive and nutrition-specific components into the services offered to smallholder farmer households. The nutrition-specific interventions consist of providing lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) to pregnant women up to 6 months after delivery and MNPs (Micronutrient Powders) to their offspring from 6-24 months of age in one study (study 1) and providing MNPs to children 6-59 months of age in a second study (study 2). |
| Abstract of Study: | Background: In Kenya, 26% of children under-five years of age are malnourished, and 26% of pre-school children, 26% of women of reproductive age and 42% of pregnant women are anaemic, respectively. Agriculture is the main source of income and food for the majority of rural families in Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya. Agricultural programmes have led to increased yield and household income but had limited success in improving nutritional status. Objectives: To assess the impact on growth and micronutrient status of an integrated programme by introducing nutrition-specific (e.g. micronutrient supplements) and nutrition-sensitive (improved water, sanitation and hygiene, e.g. chlorine, soap) components to an existing agricultural programme. Methods: The impact of the integrated programme will be assessed in two cluster-randomized intervention studies comparing one group receiving the integrated intervention to another group receiving the agricultural intervention alone (control arm): Study 1: cluster-randomized, parallel-group, prospective, follow-up effectiveness study in pregnant women and their offspring Study 2: cluster-randomized, parallel-group, prospective, follow-up effectiveness study in children 6-59 months old
Study duration: The fieldwork of study 1 will take place over approximately 2.5 years (June 2018-February 2021), while the duration for study 2 will be approximately 2 years (February 2018-March 2020).
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