An interventional study of Microclinics for nutrition support and Standard of Care (SOC) in Malnutrition in Children, sponsored by Maseno University. Completed. Open to participants aged 6 Months to 23 Months, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-13.
Sponsored by Maseno University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
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This quasi-experimental study assessed a microclinics intervention designed to improve the nutritional status of children under two years on Mfangano Island, Kenya. The intervention, implemented in Mfangano East, involved six biweekly nutrition education sessions and action plans for mothers and caregivers. A total of 161 caregiver-child pairs from Mfangano East and the comparison community of Mfangano North participated in the study. Sociodemographic information, child anthropometry, dietary diversity and meal frequency were assessed at baseline and six months later.
This study evaluated a community-based microclinics intervention designed to improve the nutritional status and feeding practices of infants and young children on Mfangano Island, Homa Bay County, Kenya. Conducted as part of an MPH thesis, the study was motivated by the burden of child malnutrition on the island and the need to understand whether a social network-based approach could support better nutrition among young children.
The study used a quasi-experimental, controlled before-and-after design involving two communities. Mfangano East was the intervention community, while Mfangano North served as the comparison community. The study included 161 mother or caregiver-child pairs: 90 in the intervention community and 71 in the comparison community. Children were aged 6-16 months at baseline, allowing them to remain within the 6-23-month age range at follow-up.
The intervention was delivered through small groups known locally as **Kanyaklas**, or microclinics. Mothers and caregivers in the intervention community participated in six sessions delivered approximately every two weeks over three months. The sessions addressed topics related to maternal and child nutrition and household food access, including infant and young child feeding, household food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, family planning, and household budgeting. Facilitators used health education, discussions, role plays and group action plans, supported by practical activities such as kitchen gardens, demonstration farms and preparation of nutritious porridge.
The study assessed child anthropometry, dietary diversity and meal frequency. Data were collected at baseline in October-November 2015 and at follow-up in April-May 2016. Caregivers provided information on household and participant characteristics, while trained research staff collected child anthropometric measurements and information on foods consumed during the preceding 24 hours. Dietary diversity was assessed using the seven WHO infant and young child food groups, with consumption of at least four groups used as the indicator of minimum dietary diversity. Changes over time were assessed within each community, and outcomes were compared between the intervention and comparison communities.
167 studies on the registry are indexed under Child Nutrition Disorders; 35 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 161 is below the median of 402 across 132 interventional studies indexed under Child Nutrition Disorders.
Browse Child Nutrition Disorders studies →Maseno University is the lead sponsor of 3 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Mothers and caregivers participated in six microclinic sessions combining nutrition education and group activities
Behavioral: Microclinics for nutrition support
Received standard of care e.g. nutrition counseling at the facilities
Behavioral: Standard of Care (SOC)
The microclinics intervention brought mothers and caregivers together in small social groups, known locally as \*Kanyaklas\*, to learn and support one another in improving child nutrition. Over approximately three months, the groups attended six sessions covering infant and young child feeding, household food security, maternal health, hygiene and household budgeting. Sessions combined education and discussions with role plays, group action plans and practical activities such as kitchen gardening, demonstration farming and preparing nutritious porridge.
Nutrition counselling at the health facilities
Dietary Diversity; Percentage of Children Achieving Minimum Dietary Diversity Assessed by Caregiver-Reported 24-Hour Dietary Recall
Minimum dietary diversity is defined as consumption of foods from at least four of seven food groups during the preceding 24 hours. Trained research assistants administer a structured caregiver-reported 24-hour food recall questionnaire, and reported foods are classified using the study Dietary Diversity Coding Tool. The seven groups are: grains, roots and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products; flesh foods; eggs; vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; and other fruits and vegetables. The outcome is calculated as the number of children consuming at least four food groups divided by the number with an evaluable dietary recall, multiplied by 100. A higher percentage indicates a greater proportion meeting the dietary diversity threshold. Unit of measure is percentage of children.
Time frame: Dietary diversity (within the previous 24 hours) measured 6 months after baseline
Meal frequency; Percentage of Children Receiving at Least Three Feeds in 24 Hours Assessed by Caregiver-Reported Dietary Recall
Meal frequency is assessed using a structured caregiver-reported 24-hour food recall questionnaire administered by trained research assistants. Caregivers report the foods consumed and the times of feeding during the preceding 24 hours. Qualifying feeds comprise solid, semi-solid or soft foods, with milk feeds also counted for non-breastfed children. The study-defined threshold is at least three qualifying feeds at separate times during the preceding 24 hours. The outcome is calculated as the number of children meeting this threshold divided by the number with an evaluable dietary recall, multiplied by 100. A higher percentage indicates a greater proportion meeting the study-defined feeding frequency threshold. Unit of measure is percentage of children.
Time frame: 6 months after baseline
Child weight; Mean Child Body Weight in Kilograms Measured Using a Calibrated Weighing Scale
Child body weight is assessed by trained research assistants using a calibrated weighing scale and recorded on the study Child Anthropometry Form. Children able to stand independently are weighed directly. For children unable to stand independently, weight is derived by subtracting the caregiver's weight from the combined caregiver-and-child weight. The assessment form specifies two weight measurements, with a third measurement when the first two differ by at least 0.5 kilograms. The outcome is the mean child body weight in kilograms for each study arm. Unit of measure is Kg.
Time frame: 6 months after baseline
Mean Child Recumbent Length in Centimeters Measured Using an Infantometer
Child recumbent length is assessed by trained research assistants using an infantometer and recorded in centimeters on the study Child Anthropometry Form. The assessment form specifies recumbent length for children younger than 24 months. The outcome is the mean recumbent length in centimeters for each study arm.
Time frame: 6 months after baseline
Mean Child Head Circumference in Centimeters Measured Using a Head Circumference Measuring Tape
Child head circumference is assessed by trained research assistants using a head circumference measuring tape and recorded in centimeters on the study Child Anthropometry Form. The form provides fields for three head circumference measurements. The outcome is the mean head circumference in centimeters for each study arm.
Time frame: 6 months after baseline
No study locations are listed for this record.
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data underlying the study findings may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request, subject to the original participant consent, institutional approval and an appropriate data-sharing agreement. Requests should be submitted to the study investigator and should include a proposed research question and analysis plan. No directly identifying participant information will be shared.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Informed consent form
Time frame: November 2026, for up to 3 years
Ran from Oct 2014 to primary completion in May 2015, 7 months.
Of 81 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Child Nutrition Disorders, half reached primary completion within 19 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 35. This study's 7 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 84 studies reached it within 19 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 36.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Maseno University