Digital tools to fight adolescent malnutrition in schools (low-resource settings)
Official title: Harnessing Digital Innovation to Tackle Adolescent Malnutrition in Low-Resource Settings: A School-Based mHealth Intervention
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11520385 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A school-based mobile health approach helps younger adolescents in low-resource areas improve nutrition and health behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $86,822 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW013259-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520385 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 10–14 year-olds enrolled in secondary or early secondary school in Dar es Salaam who have access to a mobile device or school-based tech labs and whose families and teachers are motivated to support healthy habits.
✕Less likely to help
Students in settings with limited access to mobile technology or without school support for digital health activities may see limited benefits.
What this research studies
This project designs and tests a mobile health app for 10–14 year-olds in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to promote healthier eating, physical activity, and anemia awareness within a school setting. It uses co-design with students, parents, and teachers and applies the Behavior Change Wheel and COM-B framework to shape engaging, culturally appropriate content. The intervention will include interactive, gamified lessons, quizzes, and collaborative content creation through school device labs, aiming to reinforce healthy environments at home and school. The study unfolds in two phases, starting with co-design and followed by evaluation in real-world school contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve nutrition knowledge and behaviors among adolescents and support healthier long-term outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Past digital health and school-based nutrition efforts show promise, but this project aims to adapt and rigorously test them within real-world low-resource settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fawzi, Wafaie W — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Fawzi, Wafaie W
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.