Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Nov 1;19(1):1437.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7777-y.

Study protocol to assess the impact of an integrated nutrition intervention on the growth and development of children under two in rural Bangladesh

Gulshan Ara  1 , Kazi Istiaque Sanin  2 , Mansura Khanam  2 , Shafiqul Alam Sarker  2 , Sihan Sadat Khan  2 , Mahfuza Rifat  3 , Imran Ahmed Chowdhury  3 , Sufia Askari  4 , Kaosar Afsana  3 , Tahmeed Ahmed  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Study protocol to assess the impact of an integrated nutrition intervention on the growth and development of children under two in rural Bangladesh

Gulshan Ara et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The period from birth to two years is the "critical window" for achieving optimal growth and development. An inadequate quality and quantities of complementary foods, poor child-feeding practices and infection negatively impact the growth of under-twos. Approximately one-third of under-fives in developing countries are stunted; many are also micronutrient deficient. An estimated 6% of mortalities among under-fives can be prevented by ensuring optimal complementary feeding. The objective of the study was to assess the ability of a 12-month integrated nutrition intervention to improve the nutritional status (length-for-age Z-score) of 6 to 12-month-old children in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: In this community-based randomized controlled trial, the intervention group received a package of interventions that includes, food vouchers; to prepare egg-based nutritious snacks (suji firni for < 1-year-olds, suji halwa for > 1-year-olds), micronutrient powder to fortify children's food at home, child feeding counselling and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), behaviour change communication. The control group received routine health messages provided by the government. Baseline and endline surveys were conducted; Data collection was performed monthly on children's growth, food voucher utilization, child feeding and morbidity. In addition, we assessed the cognitive development of the children after 12 months of intervention.

Conclusion: This trial aims to explore whether an integrated nutrition intervention can mitigate childhood stunting during the critical window of opportunity in rural Bangladesh. The results may provide robust evidence to improve the linear growth of children in developing countries.

Trial registration: The study was retrospectively registered on August 17, 2018 and is available online at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02768181).

Keywords: Cognitive development; Complementary food; Intervention; Length-for-age Z-score; Nutrition; Stunting.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow chart
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, Bhutta ZA, Christian P, De Onis M, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet. 2013;382(9890):427–451. - PubMed
    1. Victora CG, Adair L, Fall C, Hallal PC, Martorell R, Richter L, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital. Lancet. 2008;371(9609):340–357. - PMC - PubMed
    1. UNICEF, WHO, World Bank. Levels and trends in child malnutrition: joint child malnutrition estimates. 2012.
    1. Ezzati M, Lopez AD, Rodgers A, Vander Hoorn S, Murray CJ. Selected major risk factors and global and regional burden of disease. Lancet. 2002;360(9343):1347–1360. - PubMed
    1. Danaei G, Andrews KG, Sudfeld CR, Fink G, McCoy DC, Peet E, et al. Risk factors for childhood stunting in 137 developing countries: a comparative risk assessment analysis at global, regional, and country levels. PLoS Med. 2016;13(11):e1002164. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data