Canned Herring for Prevention of Childhood Malnutrition During the Early Rainy Season in Rural Guinea-Bissau

Global Food & Nutrition Inc.1,200 enrolled

Overview

This study will test the effectiveness of a weekly village distribution of canned herring for prevention of malnutrition in children aged 2-5 years old during a food-insecure time of the year in rural villages in Guinea-Bissau. The study will use community health workers to conduct the herring distribution, making this a test that will provide valuable information on what could become a practical food aid supplementation practice. The primary study hypothesis is that distribution of canned herring as a weekly food supplement to families with young children at the beginning of the rainy season will prevent a seasonal decrease in weight-for-age Z-score (primary variable) of children with mild to moderate malnutrition at baseline.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

1,200

Conditions

Malnutrition Undernutrition

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 2 YearsMax age: 5 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Village leaders willing to allow the study to take place in their village * Village must have community health workers who are willing to do the weekly distribution of herring to enrolled families and are able to keep the necessary records documenting the distribution. * Children age 2-5 currently living in a selected village * Parents willing to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * There are no eligibility exclusions for this study. * If a child is identified with severe malnutrition at the baseline measurement, the family will be advised to take the child for treatment rather than participate in the study.