Impact of Life-size Growth Charts on Understanding of Stunting
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Randomized control trial testing whether exposure to a wall hanging (growth mat) enabling parents to physically compare their children's height against the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for height-for-age in combination with normal messaging on stunting increases parents' understanding and retention of those messages. Both intervention and control groups will receive messages about stunting over a 3-month period, but the intervention group will also be exposed to the growth mats during the 3-month intervention period. Parents in both groups will be tested post intervention on the messages about stunting and scores will be compared.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
This study is embedded within a development program implemented by a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services. The program aims to improve child nutrition, in part, through behavior change messaging. Parents have difficulty understanding that stunting is a problem because the high prevalence (57%) means the entire population curve has shifted to the left - a stunted child appears normal when compared to others in the community.
Through previous work, we have designed a wall-hanging like a life-size, color coded growth chart. Using 2 stage sampling, with parents clustered in neighbor groups, neighbor groups have been randomly assigned to intervention or control. Both groups will receive standard lessons on stunting while only the intervention group will have the growth mats incorporated into the lessons. After 3 months of exposure to the lessons, parents will be tested on their understanding of the key lesson points. Scores between groups will be tested for statistical differences. Qualitative focus groups throughout the intervention period will collect information on perception of the message delivery and the utility of the growth mats.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Lessons with Growth Mats Participants, clustered by neighbor groups, will be given lessons on stunting. During the lessons the trainers will use the growth mats to demonstrate their points. In these villages, village-wide events will expose the full community to the messages in combination to the mats. |
Behavioral: Exposure to Growth Mats
see arm/group descriptions for description of intervention
|
| No Intervention: Lessons without Mats Participants, clustered by neighbor groups, will be given lessons on stunting without the aid of the growth mats. In these villages, village-wide events will expose the full community to the messages without the aid of the mats. |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Understanding of key messages on stunting [after 3 months of exposure to the lessons]
there are multiple key points in the lessons on stunting accompanying the mats. Interviews will test the level of understanding for each key message, combining them into a composite score. Both individual and composite scores will be compared.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Willingness to change behavior [after 3 months of exposure to the lessons]
Interviews will measure self-reported willingness to practice the recommended behaviors to reduce stunting
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- membership and regular participation in the selected neighbor groups
Exclusion Criteria:
- extended absence from the village during the intervention period
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts University | Boston | Massachusetts | United States | 02111 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Tufts University
- Catholic Relief Services
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Merry Fitzpatrick, PhD, Tufts University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- STUDY00000386