Anthropometric, biochemical, dietary, morbidity and well-being assessments in women and children in Indonesia, India and Senegal: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper
Authors: Davies-Kershaw Hilary , Fahmida Umi , Htet Min Kyaw , Kulkarni Bharati , Faye Babacar , Yanti Dwi , Shinta Dewi , Zahra Nur L , Angelin Tiffany C , Madhari Radhika , Pullakhandam Raghu , Palika Ravindranadh , Dasi Teena , Fernandez Rao Sylvia , Banjara Santosh Kumar , Selvaraj Kiruthika , Palepu Dharani Pratyusha , Yadev Dinesh , Diouf Saliou , Lopez-Sall Philomene , Diallo Babacar , Mouissi Princillia , Fall Sally , Diallo Ibrahima , Djigal Aicha , Immerzeel Tabitha D Van , Tairou Fassia , Diop Assana , Pradeilles Rebecca , Strout Sara , Momo Kadia Benjamin , Tata Darius Tetsa , Jobarteh Modou Lamin , Allen Stephen , Walker Alan , Webster Joanne P , Haggarty Paul , Heffernan Claire , Ferguson Elaine 
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Child stunting has a complex aetiology, especially in the first 1000 days of life. Nutrition interventions alone have not produced expected impacts in reducing/preventing child stunting, indicating the importance of understanding the complex interplay between environmental, physiological and psychological factors influencing child nutritional status. This study will investigate maternal and child nutrition, health and well-being status and associated factors through the assessment of: (1) anthropometry, (2) biomarkers of nutrition and health status, (3) dietary intakes, (4) fetal growth and development, (5) infant morbidity, (6) infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and (7) perinatal maternal stress, depression and social support.

Methods

This study will be conducted in a prospective pregnancy cohort in India, Indonesia and Senegal. Pregnant women will be recruited in the second (Indonesia, Senegal) and third (India) trimester of pregnancy, and the mother and infant dyads followed until the infant is 24 months of age. During pregnancy, anthropometric measures will be taken, venous blood samples will be collected for biochemical assessment of nutrition and health status, dietary intakes will be assessed using a 4-pass-24-hour dietary recall method (MP24HR), fetal ultrasound for assessment of fetal growth. After birth, anthropometry measurements will be taken, venous blood samples will be collected, MP24HR will be conducted, infant morbidity and IYCF practices will be assessed and a sample of breastmilk will be collected for nutrient composition analyses. Perinatal maternal stress, depression, social support and hair cortisol levels (stress) will be measured. The results from this study will be integrated in an interdisciplinary analysis to examine factors influencing infant growth and inform global efforts in reducing child stunting.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (17915/RR/17513); National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR)-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (CR/04/I/2021); Health Research Ethics Committee, University of Indonesia and Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (KET-887/UN2.F1/ETIK/PPM.00.02/2019); and the Comité National d'Ethique pour la Recherche en Santé, Senegal (Protocole SEN19/78); the Royal Veterinary College (URN SR2020-0197) and the International Livestock Research Institute Institutional Research Ethics Committee (ILRI-IREC2020-33). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to policy-makers and participating communities.