Improving treatment for severe malnutrition in children in Kenya
Assessing the Impact, Implementation and Cost of Empowering Community Health Promoters to Improve Wasting Treatment Coverage in Turkana County Through Family-led MUAC Scale-up, Weight-for-age Screening, and Defaulters' Follow-up
This study is testing a new way to help young children in Kenya who are severely malnourished by using community health workers with smartphones to improve screening and treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1600 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Months to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | International Food Policy Research Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lodwar) |
| Trial ID | NCT06441305 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This intervention focuses on addressing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children aged 6 to 59.9 months in Kenya by leveraging community health promoters (CHPs) equipped with smartphones and training. The CHPs will use a digitized system to enhance screening and treatment coverage for children with wasting, utilizing tools like mid-upper arm circumference tapes and baby-mother scales. The study will implement a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of this SWITCH intervention package over two years in selected community units.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 6 to 59.9 months who are identified as severely malnourished based on specific anthropometric measurements.
Not a fit: Patients with congenital malformations affecting measurement or those outside the specified height and age criteria may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly increase the identification and treatment of severely wasted children, reducing morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that community-based interventions can effectively improve malnutrition treatment coverage, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Household in a village of the study area covered by a CHP (although the child may or may not be registered by a CHP) AND * Child is 6-59.9 months of age AND * Caregiver consents to be part of the study AND * any of the following: * WHZ \< -3 (relative to WHO 2006 reference) OR * MUAC \<115 mm OR * Presence of bilateral edema OR * receiving treatment as follow-up for an initial SAM condition on the way to full recovery exclusion criteria is: * Congenital malformation that makes anthropometric measurements impossible. * Length is below 54 cm or height is above 120cm.
Where this trial is running
Lodwar
- Turkana South and Turkana East and Aroo — Lodwar, Kenya (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elodie Becquey, PhD — International Food Policy Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Elodie Becquey, PhD
- Email: e.becquey@cgiar.org
- Phone: 778487085
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.