Promoting Physical Growth and Positive Development in Severely Stunted Guatemalan Children

Wuqu' Kawoq, Maya Health Alliance

Status: Completed

Conditions: Malnutrition; Developmental Disabilities

Treatments: Behavioral: Home-based nutrition education; Dietary Supplement: Standard-of-care nutrition support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02509936

WK-2015-003

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study seeks to evaluate the impact of an intensive home-based education intervention targeting severely stunted Guatemalan children for catch up growth and improved development. Half of the children in the study will receive standard of care, which includes micronutrient supplementation and a food ration. The other half of children in the study will receive, in addition to the above, home-based dietary assessment and individualized parental nutrition education.

Enrollment: 324 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 24 months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Child aged 6-24 months at time of enrollment
• Height/length for age Z score of less than -2.5
• Child lives with parent/legal guardian

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of acute malnutrition (weight for length/height Z score of less than -2)
• Presence of other severe medical illness (e.g. congenital heart disease, genetic abnormality)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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324 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard of Care Arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

In this arm enrolled children will receive the national standard of care for growth support, which includes growth monitoring, a food ration, and a multiple micronutrient powder supplement.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Standard-of-care nutrition support

Home-based Education

Experimental group

Description:

In the intervention arm, children will receive the national standard of care for growth support, which includes growth monitoring, a food ration, and a multiple micronutrient powder supplement. In addition, they will receive monthly home visits from a community health promoter who will provide detailed dietary assessments and individualized dietary coaching and education to parents.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Standard-of-care nutrition support

Behavioral: Home-based nutrition education