OBJECTIVE: Inappropriate complementary feeding is one of the major causes of malnutrition in young children in developing countries. We developed an educational intervention, delivered by local health-care providers, aimed at improving complementary feeding practices and child nutrition. DESIGN:Eight townships in Laishui, a rural area in China, were randomly assigned to the educational intervention or control group. A total of 599 healthy infants were enrolled at age 2-4 months and followed up until 1 year of age. In the intervention group, educational messages and enhanced home-prepared recipes were disseminated to caregivers through group trainings and home visits. Questionnaire surveys and anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and ages 6, 9 and 12 months. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: It was found that food diversity, meal frequency and hygiene practices were improved in the intervention group. Infants in the intervention group gained 0.22 kg more weight (95 % CI 0.003, 0.45 kg, P = 0.047) and gained 0.66 cm more length (95 % CI 0.03, 1.29 cm, P = 0.04) than did controls over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the study suggest that an educational intervention delivered through local health-care providers can lead to substantial behavioural changes of caregivers and improve infant growth.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Inappropriate complementary feeding is one of the major causes of malnutrition in young children in developing countries. We developed an educational intervention, delivered by local health-care providers, aimed at improving complementary feeding practices and child nutrition. DESIGN: Eight townships in Laishui, a rural area in China, were randomly assigned to the educational intervention or control group. A total of 599 healthy infants were enrolled at age 2-4 months and followed up until 1 year of age. In the intervention group, educational messages and enhanced home-prepared recipes were disseminated to caregivers through group trainings and home visits. Questionnaire surveys and anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and ages 6, 9 and 12 months. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: It was found that food diversity, meal frequency and hygiene practices were improved in the intervention group. Infants in the intervention group gained 0.22 kg more weight (95 % CI 0.003, 0.45 kg, P = 0.047) and gained 0.66 cm more length (95 % CI 0.03, 1.29 cm, P = 0.04) than did controls over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the study suggest that an educational intervention delivered through local health-care providers can lead to substantial behavioural changes of caregivers and improve infant growth.
Authors: Nancy F Krebs; Manolo Mazariegos; Antoinette Tshefu; Carl Bose; Neelofar Sami; Elwyn Chomba; Waldemar Carlo; Norman Goco; Mark Kindem; Linda L Wright; K Michael Hambidge Journal: Food Nutr Bull Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 2.069
Authors: Hermann B Lanou; Saskia J M Osendarp; Alemayehu Argaw; Kirrily De Polnay; Catherine Ouédraogo; Seni Kouanda; Patrick Kolsteren Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2019-06-10 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Nancy F Krebs; Manolo Mazariegos; Elwyn Chomba; Neelofar Sami; Omrana Pasha; Antoinette Tshefu; Waldemar A Carlo; Robert L Goldenberg; Carl L Bose; Linda L Wright; Marion Koso-Thomas; Norman Goco; Mark Kindem; Elizabeth M McClure; Jamie Westcott; Ana Garces; Adrien Lokangaka; Albert Manasyan; Edna Imenda; Tyler D Hartwell; K Michael Hambidge Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2012-09-05 Impact factor: 7.045