Exploring how caregiver mental health affects children recovering from severe malnutrition
Official title: Understanding the role of caregiver mental health in outcomes following childhood severe acute malnutrition
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11031233 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a caregiver's feelings, like depression and anxiety, can affect how well children recover from severe malnutrition, and it’s for families in Burkina Faso who are going through this treatment together.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $237,765 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH139015-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031233 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are being treated for severe acute malnutrition and their caregivers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing severe acute malnutrition or whose caregivers are not facing mental health challenges may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of caregiver mental health, specifically depression and anxiety, on the recovery outcomes of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). By measuring caregiver mental health throughout the treatment process and up to a year after, the study aims to understand how these factors influence the child's recovery and potential relapse. The research is conducted in Burkina Faso as part of an ongoing trial, allowing for a detailed analysis of both caregiver and child health outcomes. This approach seeks to provide valuable insights into the interconnectedness of caregiver wellbeing and child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies that address both caregiver mental health and child recovery from severe malnutrition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing caregiver mental health can positively influence child health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oldenburg, Catherine Elizabeth — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Oldenburg, Catherine Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How caregiver mental health affects recovery from severe malnutrition in young children
This project will track caregivers' depression and anxiety while their children get treatment for severe acute malnutrition to learn how caregiver mental health relates to child recovery and relapse.
-
Caregiver mental health and recovery after severe childhood malnutrition
This project looks at whether depression and anxiety in caregivers are linked to how well young children recover and stay healthy after treatment for severe acute malnutrition in Burkina Faso.
-
Support for Parents to Help Young Kids Access Mental Health Services
A single-session online program helps caregivers of toddlers get more connected to mental health services for their child.
-
Helping caregivers get children into mental health care
A short virtual group program helps caregivers of children ages 0–11 who were referred for mental health services connect with and stick to care that fits their needs.
-
Brief online support to help caregivers connect young children to early mental health care
A short web session to help parents and caregivers of young children feel more confident and follow through with recommended mental health care after a pediatric screening.
-
Enhancing mental health support for veterans with dementia through caregiver training
This study is all about helping aging veterans with dementia by training healthcare providers to better support their family caregivers, making it easier for them to access mental health services and improve the veterans' overall well-being.
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.