The impact of family and marriage on child health in urban Africa

Kinship, Nuptiality and Child Health Outcomes in a Low Income Urban Area

NIH-funded research Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-10886515

This study is looking at how family support and living situations impact the health and growth of children from single mothers in Nairobi, Kenya, to help improve their well-being.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (College Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10886515 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how changes in family structures and kinship support affect the health and development of children living in low-income urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa. By focusing on single mothers and their children in Nairobi, Kenya, the study aims to understand the role of kinship support and the formalization of unions in promoting better health outcomes. Using a mixed methods approach, researchers will develop new measures to assess these relationships and collect data over time to track child development. The study leverages existing health surveillance systems to ensure robust data collection and analysis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are single mothers and their children aged 0-11 living in low-income urban areas of Nairobi, Kenya.

Not a fit: Patients who do not live in the targeted urban areas or who are not single mothers with young children may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting child health and development in low-income urban communities.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that kinship support plays a crucial role in child development, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

College Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.