Impact Evaluation of a Social Franchise Model for Improving Infant and Young Child Feeding and Child Nutrition in Vietnam
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Alive & Thrive is an initiative that aims to improve infant and young child feeding practices and reduce childhood stunting. In Vietnam, Alive & Thrive's primary intervention is implemented through a social franchise linked with the government's health system. The impact evaluation is conducted using a cluster-randomized design in which 20 commune health centers (CHC) were assigned to the social franchise model, and 20 CHC were assigned to routine government services. Repeated cross-sectional baseline and endline surveys will be used to assess the public health impact of this intervention. The baseline was in 2010 and an endline survey in the same communities will be conducted in 2014. Mixed methods process evaluation will be conducted in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to study the pathways through which the program impact is achieved.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
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N/A |
Detailed Description
Link provided to journal manuscript describing design of evaluation provides additional detail: http://fnb.sagepub.com/content/34/3_suppl2/S195.full.pdf
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Comparison area, only standard government services This intervention arm will receive the standard government services offered at CHCs all over Vietnam. In addition, participants in this arm will be exposed to the nationwide mass media campaign. |
Behavioral: Standard government health services
This intervention will be basic preventive and curative health services provided by the commune health centers. This includes antenatal care, postnatal care and basic nutrition related counseling.
Behavioral: Mass media campaign
Alive & Thrive is implementing a nationwide mass media campaign in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with a focus on improving breastfeeding practices. The mass media intervention includes TV and radio spots as well as an internet site and a telephone hotline.
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| Experimental: A&T Franchise In this arm, the 20 CHCs will offer Alive & Thrive branded franchise services with enhanced quality of IYCF counseling through interpersonal contact between health workers at the commune level and clients who use the commune health services. In addition, the clients could also be exposed to the mass media campaign. |
Behavioral: Standard government health services
This intervention will be basic preventive and curative health services provided by the commune health centers. This includes antenatal care, postnatal care and basic nutrition related counseling.
Behavioral: Alive & Thrive IYCF franchise services
This intervention includes intensive behavioral counseling to improve infant and young child feeding. A package of 15 counseling contacts that are quality assured and branded will be offered to families of infants and young children. Services might also include user fees.
Behavioral: Mass media campaign
Alive & Thrive is implementing a nationwide mass media campaign in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with a focus on improving breastfeeding practices. The mass media intervention includes TV and radio spots as well as an internet site and a telephone hotline.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Exclusive breastfeeding among children 0-6 months of age [4 years]
Exclusive breastfeeding in children 0-6 months of age is one of the eight WHO-recommended IYCF core indicators will be measured to capture breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. It is measured using survey based recall by interviewing mothers of children in the age group for the indicator.
- Child heights and weights (children 24-60 months of age) [4 years]
Heights and weights of children in the intervention and comparison communes covered by the CHCs in the study will be assessed in 2014. A new sample of children 24-60 months will be measured in the repeated cross-sectional endline survey to measure these outcomes and compute height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores based on the WHO growth reference standards.
- Complementary feeding for children 6-23.9 months of age [4 years]
Indicators of complementary feeding - diet diversity, minimum acceptable diet, and minimum meal frequency, measured in children 6-23.9 months of age are one of the eight WHO-recommended IYCF core indicators will be measured to capture breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. These are measured using survey based recall by interviewing mothers of children in the age group for the indicator.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Early initiation of breastfeeding in children 0-24 months of age [4 years]
Early initiation of breastfeeding (in the first hour after birth) is measured in children 0-23.9 months of age and it is one of the eight WHO-recommended IYCF core indicators will be measured to capture breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. These are measured using survey based recall by interviewing mothers of children in the age group for the indicator. Samples for children 0-6 months and 6-23.9 are combined to calculate this indicator
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children 0-60 months of age
Exclusion Criteria:
- None
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alive & Thrive & International Food Policy Research Institute | Hanoi | Vietnam |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- International Food Policy Research Institute
- FHI 360
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Purnima Menon, PhD, International Food Policy Research Institute
- Principal Investigator: Rahul Rawat, PhD, International Food Policy Research Institute
- Principal Investigator: Phuong Nguyen, PhD, International Food Policy Research Institute
- Principal Investigator: Marie T Ruel, PhD, International Food Policy Research Institute
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Additional Information:
- Alive & Thrive's overall web page. Includes description of Vietnam program.
- Journal manuscript describing impact evaluation approach, design and methods
Publications
None provided.- IFPRI-S-01 (2)