Providing Breastfeeding Support After Discharge From Hospital to Improve Growth and Development of Malnourished Infants

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · Apr 17, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to support breastfeeding for infants under six months old who are recovering from malnutrition after leaving the hospital. The goal is to help these infants grow and develop better by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding at home. Researchers believe that by providing a package of care that includes breastfeeding support to mothers once they are back home, it could lead to better health outcomes for these infants.

To participate in the study, infants must be between 4 weeks and 12 weeks old, have been admitted to Kilifi County Hospital for malnutrition, and be able to breastfeed. This means that the caregiver must be willing to breastfeed and the infant should not have any conditions that would prevent breastfeeding. Families who join the study can expect to receive personalized support to help with breastfeeding and monitor their infant's growth. This research is important because, currently, there is no such support available in Kenya or other similar countries.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Infants admitted to Kilifi County Hospital (KCH) aged between 4 weeks and 12 weeks old
• • AND Wasting or underweight assessed by Weight-for-length Z-score (WFLz)\<-2 OR Weight-for-age Z-score (WFAz) \<-2
• • OR Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC)\<110mm OR presence of bilateral pitting oedema AND
• • Any possibility to breastfeed (carer of reproductive age willing to breastfeed and infant without clinical abnormalities obstructing breastfeeding
• • Caregivers consent to participation in the study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Infants with no possibility to breastfeed. OR Infants with congenital abnormalities that would affect breastfeeding e.g. cleft palate or invalidate the use of normal growth standards.
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