Sarah L McKune1, Heather Stark2, Amanda C Sapp2, Yang Yang3, Crystal M Slanzi4, Emily V Moore2, Anteneh Omer5, Aissata Wereme N'Diaye6,7,8. 1. Departments of Environmental and Global Health, smckune@ufl.edu. 2. Departments of Environmental and Global Health. 3. Biostatics, and. 4. Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 5. School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia; and. 6. Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 7. Kamboinsé Agricultural Environmental and Training Research Center, Kamboinsé, Burkina Faso; and. 8. Department Earth and Life Science, Ouagadougou University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality globally. Egg consumption has been associated with improved child nutrition yet is rare in rural, resource-poor settings. We test the effects of a culturally tailored behavior change intervention to increase child egg consumption. METHODS: A 3-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in rural Burkina Faso with 260 mother-child dyads. Children aged 4 to 17 months from 18 villages were included; those with reported history of malnutrition or egg allergy were excluded. Each child in the full intervention arm received 4 chickens, and mothers received the 10-month behavior change package. Participants in the partial intervention arm received only the behavior change package. RESULTS: In this analysis of 250 children, the full (β = 4.3; P = 6.6 × 10-12) and the partial (β = 1.0; P = .02) interventions significantly increased egg consumption. The full intervention also significantly increased poultry production (β = 11.6; 95% confidence interval 8.3-15; P = 1.1 × 10-5) and women's decision-making about eggs (β = .66; P = .02), and significantly decreased wasting (β = .58; P = .03) and underweight (β = .47; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The culturally tailored behavior change package significantly increased child egg consumption. When coupled with the gift of chickens, the behavior change intervention yielded a greater increase in egg consumption and significantly reduced wasting and underweight. Behavior change strategies to increase egg consumption should be considered among nutrition and health programs in resource-poor settings where poultry is available.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Malnutrition is a significant contributor to child morbidity and mortality globally. Egg consumption has been associated with improved child nutrition yet is rare in rural, resource-poor settings. We test the effects of a culturally tailored behavior change intervention to increase child egg consumption. METHODS: A 3-arm cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in rural Burkina Faso with 260 mother-child dyads. Children aged 4 to 17 months from 18 villages were included; those with reported history of malnutrition or egg allergy were excluded. Each child in the full intervention arm received 4 chickens, and mothers received the 10-month behavior change package. Participants in the partial intervention arm received only the behavior change package. RESULTS: In this analysis of 250 children, the full (β = 4.3; P = 6.6 × 10-12) and the partial (β = 1.0; P = .02) interventions significantly increased egg consumption. The full intervention also significantly increased poultry production (β = 11.6; 95% confidence interval 8.3-15; P = 1.1 × 10-5) and women's decision-making about eggs (β = .66; P = .02), and significantly decreased wasting (β = .58; P = .03) and underweight (β = .47; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The culturally tailored behavior change package significantly increased child egg consumption. When coupled with the gift of chickens, the behavior change intervention yielded a greater increase in egg consumption and significantly reduced wasting and underweight. Behavior change strategies to increase egg consumption should be considered among nutrition and health programs in resource-poor settings where poultry is available.