Impact of Diet and Nutrition on Growth and Development in Young Children (DIGEST)

Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Child Development

Wasting

Nutrition

Obesity

Stunting

Development

Growth

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06018636

Nutrition & Child Development

Details and patient eligibility

About

The association between nutrition in early life and its long-term health consequences has long been known. However, there is a scarcity of scientific evidence on how nutritional status affects child growth and development in remote, rural agro-pastoral communities with distinct dietary intake habits, geographical location, socio-economic status, and cultures.

Full description

Childhood malnutrition is endemic in Pakistan. However, the agro-pastoral communities of Pakistan are at particularly high risk of childhood malnutrition due to low socioeconomic status, hard-to-reach geographic locations, harsh weather, and frequent natural disasters due to rapid climate change. Furthermore, distinct dietary habits and cultures may also influence child nutritional status and health and development in these communities. The present study aims to assess the dietary intake/patterns, nutritional status, and their association with the growth and development of children from remote, agro-pastoral communities of District Swat, Pakistan.

In this prospective cohort study from Pakistan, infants and young children (n=416) aged ≤ 2 years and residing in agro-pastoral communities of District Swat will be recruited and followed every 12 months for 5 years. An age and gender-matched comparison group of children (n=416) will also be recruited from the more urban areas of District Swat. Data on household socio-economic status, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) of Mothers, Infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF), Complimentary Feeding and Eating practices, and growth and development of the children will be assessed from baseline and every 12 months till the child is 5 years old. Anthropometric assessment including height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and BMI will also be performed at each time point.

Enrollment

832 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

1 day to 24 months old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Households living in the area from the last two 2 years.
Households having infants or young children ≤ years.
Households planning to reside in the same area for the next 1 year.

Exclusion criteria

Children with any co-existent systemic diseases, confirmed from medical records.
Children on continuous medications for any medical issue.
Physically or mentally handicapped children