Leveraging the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Platform to Address Malaria and Malnutrition

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · Sep 13, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to improve child health during the rainy season in the Sahel region, when malaria and malnutrition are both common problems. The researchers want to see if using an existing program that delivers malaria prevention medicine can also help provide nutritional support to children. During this trial, children aged 6 to 59 months who live in the study area and are eligible for malaria prevention treatment will be considered for participation. Caregivers must be at least 18 years old and give written consent for their child to join.

Participants can expect to receive monthly visits during the malaria season (from July to October) for malaria prevention medicine, as well as nutritional support for eligible children aged 6 to 24 months. The trial aims to gather important information that could lead to better health strategies for children, especially during this vulnerable time of year. It's an exciting opportunity to potentially help many children stay healthier by combining efforts to fight both malaria and malnutrition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Children will be eligible for inclusion in the trial if they meet all of the following criteria:
• • Live in the study community
• • Eligible for SMC
• • No allergy to peanuts or cow's milk
• • Able to orally feed
• * Within the eligible age ranges:
• • 6-59 months for passive surveillance
• • 6-24 months for SQ-LNS provision
• • Written informed consent from at least one caregiver
• • Caregiver is at least 18 years of age
• • Children will be recruited during normal distribution (via door-to-door delivery) for SMC, which occurs monthly during the malaria season (July through October).
• • Children ages 3-6 months are eligible for SMC and will be included in nutritional screening and monitoring by default but will not be eligible for SQ-LNS, which is designed for children ages 6-24 months and will not be part of the passive surveillance.
• • A random sample of children ages 6-24 months during the first month of distribution will be asked to participate in an active surveillance cohort. These children will be followed biweekly for screening for malaria with a rapid diagnostic test and temperature and monthly for dried blood spot and anthropometric measurements.