Overview
The objective of this prospective, real-world evidence/pragmatic study with a quality improvement program approach is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a community-engaged nutrition-focused program utilizing nutrition screening, education, supplementation and continuous follow up for children and their families.
Eligibility
Household Component
Inclusion
- Children aged 1-5 years experiencing stunting or its risk (defined as HAZ ≤ -1 SD at baseline)
- Children's legal guardian agrees to participate in the study
- Full term pregnancy (defined as ≥ 37 weeks gestation and ≥ 2500g birth weight)
- Residence in study area attending Children International (NGO) centers
Exclusion
• Children who have current medical conditions requiring hospitalization: gastrointestinal tract infections or inflammatory bowel disease; active tuberculosis; acute hepatitis B or C; human immunodeficiency virus OR malignancy; cystic fibrosis; immunodeficiency syndromes, congenital abnormalities of the respiratory tract, such as lung and respiratory cilia; an unsuspected foreign body in the respiratory tract; asthma; heart abnormalities; abdominal hernias; and known metabolic disorders, renal impairment, or rheumatic diseases and diabetes
- Congenital condition
- Children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, neurodegenerative disorders
- Children with chronic or acute infections e.g. HIV, malaria
- Children who are taking medications or other agents that could potentially affect body weight, including diuretics, appetite stimulants, steroids, and growth hormones
- Children who have genetic conditions impacting weight status such as but not limited to: Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Children already enrolled in a nutrition program that includes a supplement
- Participant has an allergy or intolerance to any ingredient in the study supplement, as reported by the parent.
- Children with sleep disorders such as but not limited to: obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, parasomnias (sleepwalking, night terrors, bedwetting), delayed sleep phase syndrome, behavioral sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disorders
- Mental health disorders such as but not limited to: anxiety, depression
Organization Component
Inclusion
- NGO staff taking part in nutrition screenings
- Agrees to participate in survey
Exclusion
- Not involved in the implementation of the study
- Not involved in working with pediatric stunting or its risk
- Declines participation in survey
