Child Malnutrition
Conditions
Keywords
Small fish powder, Complementary feeding, Infant malnutrition, Nutritional effectiveness, Northern Cameroon
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of supplementing the diets of infants aged 6-7 months with small fish powder on growth outcomes in the Garoua 1st Health District, Northern Cameroon. A total of 240 infants were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either small fish powder or a millet flour control for six months. The primary endpoint was growth effectiveness, defined as achieving a height-for-age Z-score ≥ -1.5 after six months. Secondary outcomes included prevention of acute malnutrition, weight gain, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) gain, morbidity frequency, and intervention failure rate. Study procedures comprised weekly ration distribution, anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin and malaria testing, and parental nutritional education. Data were analyzed using SPSS and XLSTAT, with statistical significance set at p \< 0.05.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTSmall Fish Powder
Infants aged 6-7 months will receive a daily ration of small fish powder equivalent to \~25 kcal/day, providing approximately 65% of the recommended daily protein intake for children aged 6-24 months. Parents will be instructed on how to incorporate the powder into the child's usual diet. Weekly distribution will occur at the health center, accompanied by monthly nutrition education and biweekly clinical monitoring.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTMillet Flour
Infants aged 6-7 months will receive a daily ration of millet flour equivalent to \~25 kcal/day, providing approximately 10% of the recommended daily protein intake for children aged 6-24 months. To standardize taste, 3% fish powder will be added. Parents will be instructed on how to incorporate the flour into the child's usual diet. Weekly distribution will occur at the health center, accompanied by monthly nutrition education and biweekly clinical monitoring.
Sponsors
Centre for Food and Nutrition Research, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon
UNICEF
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
This study is a comparative effectiveness trial evaluating infant growth from 6-7 months of age over a six month period. A randomized controlled parallel design will be used, with allocation to either small fish powder supplementation or a control prepared with millet flour. A randomization list will be generated using a random number generator (Stat Trek). Allocation will be determined by parents drawing coded numbers from an opaque bag, each corresponding to one of the products. The code will be accessible only to distribution staff. Clinical evaluators will remain blinded to group assignment. If two infants belong to the same household, they will receive the same product to minimize potential confusion.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Months to 7 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Infants aged 6-7 months. * Families residing in the study area with no plans to relocate during the study period. * Absence of severe illness at enrollment.
Exclusion criteria
* Severe anemia. * Severe acute malnutrition. * Clinically defined illness such as dehydration, severe diarrhea, or respiratory disease.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Height-for-Age Z-score | 6 months | Growth effectiveness, defined as the proportion of children achieving a height-for-age Z-score ≥ -1.5 SD after six months of supplementation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weight-for-Height Z-score | 6 months | Prevention of acute malnutrition, defined as weight-for-height Z-score ≥ -1.5 SD. |
| Weight Gain | 6 months | Mean change in body weight (kg) from baseline to six months. |
| Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Gain | 6 months | Mean change in MUAC (cm) from baseline to six months. |
| Morbidity Frequency | 6 months | Number of morbidity episodes (e.g., diarrhea, respiratory infections, malaria) recorded per child during the six-month intervention period. |
| Intervention Failure Rate | 6 months | Proportion of children failing to achieve growth effectiveness (height-for-age Z-score \< -1.5 SD) after six months. |
Countries
Cameroon
Outcome results
None listed