The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition health education intervention among ethnic minority children aged 5-16 years in Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam. It will also assess factors associated with nutritional status in this population. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the nutrition health education intervention improve nutritional status? Does the intervention improve nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)? Does the intervention improve diet quality and physical activity levels among participants? Researchers will compare participants receiving the nutrition education intervention with control group to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Participants in intervention group will: Participate in a structured nutrition education program delivered monthly for 4 months through interactive lessons, videos, and educational materials Receive ongoing support and reinforcement activities for an additional 2 months Attend baseline and follow-up assessments including anthropometric measurements and interviews Complete questionnaires on nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and physical activity
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
811
A multi-component nutrition health education program delivered through community-based and school-based models. For children aged 5-10 years, both children and their caregivers participate in nutrition education sessions at local health stations. For children aged 11-16 years, the intervention is delivered at ethnic minority boarding schools. The program consists of four monthly structured sessions using presentations and videos, supported by interactive posters, nutrition leaflets, and dietary and physical activity diaries. The key topics include: (1) nutrients and health, (2) prevention of undernutrition and overweight/obesity, (3) healthy dietary habits, and (4) physical activity promotion. The intervention lasts four months, followed by a two-month maintenance phase with reinforcement by community health workers, school staff, and family engagement.
Community Health Centers in Tra Vinh Province
Thanh pho Tra Vinh, Tra Vinh, Vietnam
Change in BMI-for-age z-score
Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kilogram/meters\^2. BMI-for-age z-score calculated according to the 2007 WHO growth standards.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in prevalence of malnutrition (including undernutrition and overweight/obesity)
Proportion of participants with abnormal nutritional status, including undernutrition (stunting, underweight, or thinness) and overweight/obesity, classified according to WHO growth reference standards based on age- and sex-specific z-scores.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)
Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices assessed using a structured questionnaire developed based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Guidelines for assessing nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices. Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 11, attitude scores from 0 to 17, and practice scores from 0 to 8, with higher scores indicating better nutrition knowledge, more favorable nutrition attitudes, and better nutrition practices.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in diet quality scores
Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), including the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and the Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) score. The Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) ranges from 0 to 10 based on the number of food groups consumed, with higher scores indicating greater dietary diversity. The Global Dietary Recommendations (GDR) score ranges from 0 to 18 and reflects adherence to global dietary recommendations for protection against non-communicable diseases, with higher scores indicating better adherence to recommended dietary patterns.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in physical activity levels
Physical activity levels assessed using a standardized questionnaire, including frequency and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in skeletal muscle mass
Skeletal muscle mass (SMM), measured in kilograms using bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody analyzer.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in body fat mass
Body fat mass (BFM), measured in kilograms using bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody analyzer.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
Change in fat-free mass
Fat-free mass (FFM), measured in kilograms using bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody analyzer.
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months
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