Intervention on Development and Growth at Children in Poverty (RAI)

Hasselt University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Child Malnutrition

Treatments: Other: basic services; Other: the play-based developmental stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02988180

DGSC-2015

Details and patient eligibility

About

Children in extreme poverty lack adequate care and face increased health risks. The earlier poverty strikes in the developmental process, the more deleterious and long-lasting its effects. There is, however, growing evidence that early interventions can prevent the negative consequences. Such interventions are effective, particularly when they are of high quality, organized at home and parents are involved. Recently, baseline assessment of developmental and nutritional status of SOS children and children in extreme poverty in Jimma region of South-West Ethiopia revealed that these children have developmental problems in language, motor, social-emotional skills and nutritional status. The impact of play-oriented stimulation activities integrated into the existing SOS basic program, on developmental outcomes, has never been investigated in this context. The main objective of the study is, therefore, to evaluate the impact of play-oriented stimulation integrated into the basic SOS program on the developmental outcomes of children living with foster families. This was done by comparing the intervention children with their age-matched children (control), not receiving the stimulation package. It was hypothesized that this package would significantly improve the developmental skills of these children.

Enrollment: 78 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 59 months old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children who were selected by the SOS children's village as lacking parental care and receive basic services;
• Children living in Jimma town;
• Children from 3 months to 59 months of age.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with observable physical disabilities which hinders mobility;
• Children with severe mental retardation;
• Children with discernable hearing and visual impairments.

Trial design

78 participants in 2 patient groups

intervention group

Other group

Description:

Children in the intervention group received basic services such as family-home, food, clothing, health care, protection and education for older children. In addition, there received play-based developmental stimulation integrated into the services.

Treatment:

Other: basic services

Other: the play-based developmental stimulation

control group

Other group

Description:

The age-matched control children received the basic services such as family-home, food, clothing, health care, protection and education. However, they were not provided with the play-based developmental stimulation.

Treatment:

Other: basic services