Climate-responsive nutrition, WASH, and heat counselling for maternal and child health in Sindh
Official title: Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Climate-Responsive Integrated Nutrition, WASH, and Heat Adaptation Counselling Strategies to Improve Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Outcomes in Sindh Province, Pakistan - Protocol
Run by The Hospital for Sick Children · NCT07819994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-based program will test whether training local health workers and facility staff to give climate-aware nutrition, hygiene, and heat adaptation guidance improves maternal and child nutrition outcomes in rural Sindh, Pakistan.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 15 Years to 49 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 5000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The Hospital for Sick Children Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Karachi, Sindh) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 19, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 2028 |
| Study ends | July 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07819994 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are households in rural Sindh with a pregnant or lactating woman or a woman of reproductive age with a child under 24 months, willing to participate and provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Households not engaged in the health system, or those without a pregnant or lactating woman or eligible WRA with a young child, may see no direct benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a cluster-randomized trial evaluating an integrated, climate-responsive training package for Lady Health Workers and healthcare providers. Communities receiving the enhanced training are compared with those receiving standard care to see if knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding, hygiene, and heat adaptation improve. The study targets women of reproductive age and young children in rural districts, with longitudinal follow-up through pregnancy and early childhood. Primary delivery involves counseling by trained LHWs at the community level and by HCPs at facilities. The aim is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and potential scalability of the integrated program within routine health systems in Pakistan.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve maternal and child nutrition and hygiene practices and better adapt families to climate-related heat stress.
How similar studies have gone: Evidence from similar training-based approaches suggests potential benefits, but integration of climate-responsive content in nutrition and WASH is relatively novel in this setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Household has at least one pregnant or lactating woman (PLW) OR woman of reproductive age (WRA) with a child less than 24 months old * Resident of the selected clusters of the district * Permanent resident of the household * Willing and able to provide informed consent Cohort: All pregnant women identified at baseline who are \<18 weeks' gestation will be invited to enroll in the prospective longitudinal cohort nested within the trial. Only women who provide informed consent and agree to longitudinal follow-up at four-month intervals throughout pregnancy and until their child reaches 12-18 months of age will be enrolled Exclusion Criteria: * Household does not include a pregnant or lactating woman (PLW) OR a woman of reproductive age (WRA) with a child less than 24 months * Household does not provide informed consent * Woman is a known case of chronic hypertension * Woman is a known case of pre-eclampsia * Woman is a known case of type 1 diabetes * Woman is a known case of type 2 diabetes * Woman is a known case of gestational diabetes * Woman is a known case of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism * Woman is a known case of tuberculosis * Child has congenital anomalies or medical conditions
Where it's running
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The Aga Khan University
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Zulfiqar Bhutta, PhD, MBBS, FRCPCH, FAAP — The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Centre for Global Child Health
- Study coordinator: Sajid B Soofi, MBBS, FCPS
- Email: sajid.soofi@aku.edu
- Phone: 92 21 34930051
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.