A Phase 3 interventional study of Health and family planning and Nutrition in Nutritional Stunting and Feeding Behavior, sponsored by University of South Carolina. Completed at 1 site in Nepal. Open to participants aged 0 Months to 60 Months. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-01-06.
Sponsored by University of South Carolina · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention
Suaahara's primary aim is to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under 5 years of age and to reduce the prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age and children 6-59 months of age. For this, the program uses a multi-sectoral approach to achieve four key intermediate results: 1) improved household nutrition, sanitation, and health behaviors; 2) increased use of quality nutrition and health services by women and children; 3) improved access to diverse and nutrient-rich foods by women and children; and 4) accelerated roll-out of the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Plan (MSNP) through strengthened local governance
The Government of Nepal and development partners have prioritized multi-sectoral (integrated) nutrition as a key development agenda. The Suaahara program funded by the United States Agency for International Development is one of the programs that support the Government of Nepal's multi-sectoral nutrition plan. It aims to reduce maternal and child under-nutrition over a period of ten years, spanning two phases: Suaahara I (2011-2016) and Suaahara II (2016-2021). Initially launched in 20 of 75 districts, the program has scaled-up to 42 of 77 districts that span across Nepal's three agroecological zones of mountains, hills, and terai.
Suaahara I was led by Save the Children International in partnership with Helen Keller International, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs, Jhpiego, Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH), the National Promotion and Consultancy Service, and the Nepali Technical Assistance Group (NTAG). Suaahara II was led by Helen Keller International in partnership with Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc., Family Health International 360), he Nepali Technical Assistance Group, Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access, Environmental and Public Health Organization, and Vijaya Development Resource Center.
Suaahara's primary aim is to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under 5 years of age and to reduce the prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age and children 6-59 months of age. For this, the program uses a multi-sectoral approach to achieve four key intermediate results (IRs): 1) improved household nutrition, sanitation, and health behaviors; 2) increased use of quality nutrition and health services by women and children; 3) improved access to diverse and nutrient-rich foods by women and children; and 4) accelerated roll-out of the MSNP through strengthened local governance. Suaahara interventions span health and family planning (FP), nutrition, agriculture/homestead food production (HFP), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Diverse social and behavior change communication interventions are used, primarily to generate demand for access to improved services and to motivate households to adopt optimal health, nutrition, and WASH practices. All Suaahara interventions are supported by a crosscutting theme of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), in part by targeting women and disadvantaged groups and conducting activities that address GESI-related barriers to optimal health, nutrition, and WASH behaviors. Suaahara's conceptual framework illustrates the paths by which the program activities linked to desired outcomes achieve Suaahara II objectives.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Suaahara interventions span health and family planning; nutrition; agriculture/homestead food production; and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Diverse social and behavior change communication interventions are used, primarily to generate demand for access to improved services and to motivate households to adopt optimal health, nutrition, and WASH practices. All Suaahara interventions are supported by a crosscutting theme of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), in part by targeting women and disadvantaged groups and conducting activities that address GESI-related barriers to optimal health, nutrition, and WASH behaviors.
Behavioral: Health and family planning · Behavioral: Nutrition · Behavioral: Agriculture and homestead food production · Behavioral: Water, sanitation, and hygiene
Usual care.
Promotion of health and family planning behaviors
Promotion of maternal, infant, and young child feeding behaviors and nutrition
Promotion of knowledge and practices about homestead food production
Promotion of behaviors to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene
Child dietary diversity (Indicators for Assessing Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices)
Mean score, range 0 to 8, higher is better
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day before data collection
Maternal dietary diversity (Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women)
Mean score, range 0 to 10, higher is better
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day before data collection
Stunting
Prevalence of height or length for age zscore \< -2
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Underweight prevalence
Prevalence of weight for age zscore \< -2
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Wasting
Prevalence of weight for length for height zscore \< -2
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Maternal underweight
Prevalence of body mass index \< 18.5
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Maternal anemia
Prevalence \< 12 g/dl
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Anemia among children aged 6-59 months
Prevalence \< 11 g/dl
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Accurate health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge and skills among Female Community Health Volunteers and health workers from 52 items
Prevalence \> 80% correct from 52 items
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Child minimum dietary diversity (Indicators for Assessing Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices)
Prevalence \> 4 food groups of 8
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day before data collection
Maternal minimum dietary diversity (Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women)
Prevalence \> 4 food groups of 10
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day before data collection
Height for age
Mean z-score
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Weight for age
Mean z-score
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Weight for height
Mean z-score
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Maternal body mass index
Mean
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Maternal hemoglobin
Mean in g/dl
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Child hemoglobin
Mean in g/dl
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Knowledge score on core infant and young child feeding practices among mothers from 15 items
Mean score, range 0 to 15, higher is better
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Knowledge score on health and water, sanitation, and hygiene practices among mothers from 37 items
Mean score, range 0 to 37, higher is better
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Female Community Health Volunteers and health workers with ideal practices related to health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and health from 52 items
Prevalence \> 80% correct from 52 items
Time frame: Over the 24 hours of the day of data collection
Plan to share: No
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University of South Carolina