Impact Evaluation of a Social Franchise Model for Improving Infant and Young Child Feeding and Child Nutrition in Vietnam

International Food Policy Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exclusive Breastfeeding; Complementary Feeding; Child Nutrition; Stunting

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard government health services; Behavioral: Mass media campaign; Behavioral: Alive & Thrive IYCF franchise services

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01676623

IFPRI-S-01 (2)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Alive & Thrive is an initiative that aims to improve infant and young child feeding practices and reduce childhood stunting. In Vietnam, Alive & Thrive's primary intervention is implemented through a social franchise linked with the government's health system. The impact evaluation is conducted using a cluster-randomized design in which 20 commune health centers (CHC) were assigned to the social franchise model, and 20 CHC were assigned to routine government services. Repeated cross-sectional baseline and endline surveys will be used to assess the public health impact of this intervention. The baseline was in 2010 and an endline survey in the same communities will be conducted in 2014. Mixed methods process evaluation will be conducted in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to study the pathways through which the program impact is achieved.

Full description

Link provided to journal manuscript describing design of evaluation provides additional detail: http://fnb.sagepub.com/content/34/3_suppl2/S195.full.pdf

Enrollment: 4,000 patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 60 months old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children 0-60 months of age

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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4,000 participants in 2 patient groups

Comparison area, only standard government services

Active Comparator group

Description:

This intervention arm will receive the standard government services offered at CHCs all over Vietnam. In addition, participants in this arm will be exposed to the nationwide mass media campaign.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mass media campaign

Behavioral: Standard government health services

A&T Franchise

Experimental group

Description:

In this arm, the 20 CHCs will offer Alive \& Thrive branded franchise services with enhanced quality of IYCF counseling through interpersonal contact between health workers at the commune level and clients who use the commune health services. In addition, the clients could also be exposed to the mass media campaign.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Alive & Thrive IYCF franchise services

Behavioral: Mass media campaign

Behavioral: Standard government health services