Impact on Nutritional Practices: SMS and Interpersonal Communication

Evaluating the Impact of Text Messages and Interpersonal Community Support Groups on MICN Practices in Tanzania

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03297190

Acronym

RISE

Enrollment

2245

Registered

2017-09-29

Start date

2018-02-25

Completion date

2019-09-30

Last updated

2022-06-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nutritional Deficiency

Brief summary

This cluster randomized controlled study aims to add to the evidence base on mHealth interventions by assessing the main effects of delivering nutrition messages on key maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) behaviors and outcomes through three innovative behavior change strategies. The strategies compared will be: (i) an interpersonal communication strategy using the Tanzanian government's Mkoba wa Siku 1000 maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) curriculum (MwS) through clinic- and community-based channels, (ii) the mNutrition SMS text messaging module of the government's Wazazi Nipendeni program, and (iii) the combination of both of these strategies (interpersonal and SMS messaging). They will be compared with the current standard of care in Tanzania. The goal will be to determine which has the greatest impact on key MIYCN and hygiene practices and care-seeking behaviors. It will be paired with a costing analysis so that these effects can be understood in the context of their costs.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSMS

Receipt of SMS messages on nutrition and health topics

BEHAVIORALInterpersonal Counselling

Interpersonal counselling on health and nutrition topics

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

FACTORIAL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Intervention model description

Four arms: (1) SMS only; (2) SMS + interpersonal; (3) interpersonal only; (4) none

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

16 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Mothers of children aged 0-12 mo. or pregnant at time of enrollment * Consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to consent to participate in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Children's Dietary Diversity	24 h	% of children 6-29 mo. who consumed the minimum dietary diversity (received foods from ≥4 food groups on the previous day)
Women's dietary diversity	24 h	% who consumed food items from at least five out of ten defined food groups in the previous 24 hours (WDDS)
Children's Minimum Meal Frequency	24 h	% of children 6-29 mo. who consumed the minimum meal frequency the prior day (2/day for breastfed infants 6-8 mo.; 3/day for breastfed infants 9-29 mo.; 4/day for non-breastfed infants 6-29 mo.)

Countries

Tanzania

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026