The time between birth and age 24 months provides a unique opportunity to impact the long-term health and development of children through improved infant and young child feeding practices. In Burkina Faso, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is currently around 25% in infants younger than six months. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the Alive \& Thrive intervention package, consisting of interpersonal counselling and community mobilisation activities, can increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate among infants younger than six months to at least 50% using a cluster randomised design.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
4,541
1. Interpersonal communication delivered by community workers and volunteers during home visits and at monthly mother's group meetings to: * Increase mother's knowledge about optimal breastfeeding and its benefits * Increase mother's self-efficacy related to breastfeeding * Improve mother's perceptions about social norms relating to breastfeeding 2. Community mobilisation activities to: \- Raise awareness of the benefits of optimal breastfeeding among opinion leaders, and family members, and increase the support they provide to breastfeeding mothers 3. Enhanced training of government health workers in infant and young child feeding to: * Improve their ability to support mothers and provide timely information about infant feeding
AFRICSanté
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Centre Muraz Research Institute
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Exclusive Breastfeeding on the Day Preceding the Interview as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The percentage of infants aged less than 6 months who were exclusively breastfed on the day preceding the interview.
Time frame: Infants up to 6 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Breastfeeding Within 1 Hour of Birth as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of newborns aged less than 6 months who were breastfed within 1 hour of birth.
Time frame: Infants up to 6 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Colostrum Given as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of newborns aged less than 6 months who were given colostrum.
Time frame: Infants up to 6 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Pre-lacteal Feeds as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of newborns aged less than 6 months who received no pre-lacteal feeds before breastfeeding was established
Time frame: Infants up to 6 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Semi-solid, Solid or Soft Foods Consumed in the Previous Day as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of infants age 6 to 8 months who received semi-solid, solid or soft foods in the previous day.
Time frame: Infants age 6-8 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Minimum Acceptable Diet (Apart From Breast Milk) on the Day Preceding Interview as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of infants aged 6 to 11.9 months who received a minimum acceptable diet (apart from breast milk) on the day preceding interview.
Time frame: Infants age 6-11.9 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Dietary Diversity as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
Dietary diversity among infants age 6 to 11.9 months.
Time frame: Infants age 6-11.9 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Breast Milk on the Day Preceding the Interview as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
The proportion of children aged 6 to 11.9 months who were fed breast milk on the day preceding the interview.
Time frame: Infants age 6-11.9 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Mother's Accurate Knowledge of Good Breastfeeding Practice as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
Mother's accurate knowledge of: * Optimal timing of breastfeeding initiation * Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding * Benefits of optimal breastfeeding practices for the infant * Solutions to common difficulties, for example engorgement, cracked and sore nipples * Optimal timing to introduce complementary feeding * Optimal dietary diversity and frequency of complementary feeding up to 12 months
Time frame: Mothers of infants aged up to 12 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Mother's Self-reported Breastfeeding Practices as Assessed by Cross Sectional Survey
Mother's self-reported breastfeeding practices, including asking her if she experiences any barriers or difficulties with breastfeeding such as engorgement, cracked and sore nipples, or breastfeeding when working outside of the home.
Time frame: Mothers of infants aged up to 12 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Mother's Perceptions and Beliefs Surrounding Breastfeeding
Mother's perceptions and beliefs about breastfeeding (qualitative component).
Time frame: Mothers of infants aged up to 12 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
Knowledge, Beliefs and Perceptions Surrounding Breastfeeding of Family Members
Knowledge, beliefs and perceptions of family members, such as mothers or mothers in law, community opinion leaders towards optimal infant and child feeding practices (qualitative component).
Time frame: Family members of infants aged up to 12 months in a cross-sectional endline survey scheduled for April - July 2017
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