Stunting
Conditions
Keywords
stunting, height-for-age, behavior change, malnutrition
Brief summary
Randomized control trial testing whether exposure to a wall hanging (growth mat) enabling parents to physically compare their children's height against the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for height-for-age in combination with normal messaging on stunting increases parents' understanding and retention of those messages. Both intervention and control groups will receive messages about stunting over a 3-month period, but the intervention group will also be exposed to the growth mats during the 3-month intervention period. Parents in both groups will be tested post intervention on the messages about stunting and scores will be compared.
Detailed description
This study is embedded within a development program implemented by a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services. The program aims to improve child nutrition, in part, through behavior change messaging. Parents have difficulty understanding that stunting is a problem because the high prevalence (57%) means the entire population curve has shifted to the left - a stunted child appears normal when compared to others in the community. Through previous work, we have designed a wall-hanging like a life-size, color coded growth chart. Using 2 stage sampling, with parents clustered in neighbor groups, neighbor groups have been randomly assigned to intervention or control. Both groups will receive standard lessons on stunting while only the intervention group will have the growth mats incorporated into the lessons. After 3 months of exposure to the lessons, parents will be tested on their understanding of the key lesson points. Scores between groups will be tested for statistical differences. Qualitative focus groups throughout the intervention period will collect information on perception of the message delivery and the utility of the growth mats.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALExposure to Growth Mats
see arm/group descriptions for description of intervention
Sponsors
Catholic Relief Services
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Tufts University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
enumerators interviewing/testing the participants on their understanding of the messages will not know whether or not the participants have been exposed to the growth mats (intervention).
Intervention model description
Participants are assigned to intervention and control groups. At the end of a 3-month intervention, differences in comprehension of messages on stunting will be measured. Additionally, focus groups in the general community will collect information on perceptions of the messages and growth mats.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* membership and regular participation in the selected neighbor groups
Exclusion criteria
* extended absence from the village during the intervention period
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of key messages on stunting | after 3 months of exposure to the lessons | there are multiple key points in the lessons on stunting accompanying the mats. Interviews will test the level of understanding for each key message, combining them into a composite score. Both individual and composite scores will be compared. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Willingness to change behavior | after 3 months of exposure to the lessons | Interviews will measure self-reported willingness to practice the recommended behaviors to reduce stunting |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed