Expanding Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Treatment in Kenya

Launched by INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE · May 28, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called "Expanding Coverage of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Treatment in Kenya," is focused on helping children who are severely malnourished, a condition known as wasting. Wasting occurs when a child is too thin, which can lead to serious health risks. In this study, community health promoters (CHPs) will use smartphones and special tools to identify children who are suffering from wasting and ensure they receive the medical care and nutritional support they need. The goal is to see if this new approach can increase the number of children getting proper treatment in certain areas of Kenya.

To participate in the trial, children must be between 6 months and 5 years old, live in a village served by a CHP, and meet specific health criteria indicating they are severely malnourished. Caregivers must also agree to be part of the study. Participants can expect regular health check-ups, weight measurements, and training on how to monitor their child's health at home. The study will compare areas where this new intervention is used to those where it is not, to see if more children receive the help they need. Additionally, the study will gather feedback from the community to understand the challenges faced and how well the program is working.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Household in a village of the study area covered by a CHP (although the child may or may not be registered by a CHP) AND
• • Child is 6-59.9 months of age AND
• • Caregiver consents to be part of the study AND
• * any of the following:
• • WHZ \< -3 (relative to WHO 2006 reference) OR
• • MUAC \<115 mm OR
• • Presence of bilateral edema OR
• • receiving treatment as follow-up for an initial SAM condition on the way to full recovery
• exclusion criteria is:
• • Congenital malformation that makes anthropometric measurements impossible.
• • Length is below 54 cm or height is above 120cm.

Trial Officials