Assessing the Effectiveness of Strengthening the Growth Monitoring and Promotional Activities in Rural Bangladesh

Background: To tackle the high burden of undernutrition, the government of Bangladesh has identified growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) as a priority activity in the National Nutrition Services operational plan. Till date, no evidence are available from Bangladeshi studies to identify the effectiveness of GMP in improving the nutritional status of Bangladeshi children under 2 years of age. During 2013-14, two Bangladeshi studies looking at implementation issues of GMP at Community Clinic level and assessing the quality of nutrition services at primary health care facilities. The studies identified that lack of coordination, inadequate training, supervision, and logistic supplies as challenges to GMP implementation. Currently, GMP, (primarily sick child GMP) is being implemented through community clinics, supported by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other programs funded by donors. Besides, GMP is also taking place in areas where there are no NGO or donor support activities. However, the quality of nutrition data related to GMP is believed to be unsatisfactory. Hence, it is important to assess the effectiveness of GMP on the growth of under 2-year-old children.

Hypothesis: GMP services could improve the growth of children under 2 years of age by 20 percent in the intervention group compared to the control group

Objectives:To examine the effectiveness of GMP in improving nutritional status of children under 2 years of age

Methods:

Study design: Quasi-experimental study using mixed methods Study duration: 24 months Study setting: The study will be conducted in six sub-districts of rural Bangladesh where GMP is operational at the community clinic level. However, those areas will be excluded if there is any ongoing community or household level intervention on nutrition counseling being implemented by an NGO. For smooth implementation of GMP, refresher training on nutrition to health service providers will be provided by the study team.

Study participants: children under 2 years of age, mother's/caregiver's of children \<2 and service providers.

Intervention group: children under 2 years of age who are exposed to GMP services at community clinics where an NGO funded program is supporting GMP implementation Control group: children under 2 years of age, at community clinics where GMP is not operational

Introduction and objective:

Bangladesh has partly achieved the millennium development goal targets for nutrition and is committed to achieving the Sustainable development goals targets. Between 1997 and 2014, childhood stunting reduced from 60% to 36% nationally, and wasting has declined from 21% to 14%. However, 6.4 million children remain stunted, leaving them unable to develop to their full physical and mental potential. To tackle the high burden of under-nutrition, the government of Bangladesh has identified growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) as a priority activity in the National Nutrition Services operational plan. GMP is to be implemented from all primary health care facilities of the government health system. Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) is a preventive activity comprised of growth monitoring linked with promotion (usually counseling) that increases awareness about child growth and improves caring practices. Ideally, in GMP, the weight of children usually under 2 years of age is measured periodically (for example, on a monthly or bi-monthly basis). The measurement can start at birth, accurately recorded on a growth chart, interpreted and explained to the caregivers. Additionally, the health workers give information through counseling, facilitating communication, and interacting with mothers in a way that aims to generate adequate maternal action to promote child growth. Recent systematic reviews question the effectiveness and relevance of GMP programs in general. Currently, GMP, which is primarily focused on sick child GMP is being implemented through community clinics (CCs), supported by NGOs or other programs funded by donors. Besides, GMP is also taking place in areas where there are no non-governmental organization (NGO) or donor support activities. However, the quality of nutrition data related to GMP is believed to be unsatisfactory. On this backdrop, it is important to assess the GMP implementation and its effect on the growth of under 2-year-old children. Hence, this study will offer a useful opportunity to examine the effectiveness of strengthening the GMP activities in improving growth and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among children under 2 years of age in rural Bangladesh.

Selection of study site:

From the discussion and list of sub-districts shared by the NGO program, the investigators have selected 3 sub-districts where the program will be implemented from January 2018. The investigators have selected these 3 sub-districts based on (a) time of implementation of the program which matches with the project timeline; (b) available staff and logistics support by the NGO program in these sub-districts; and (c) large number of Community Clinics in these sub-districts to satisfy the required number of study participants and their caregivers. Additionally, the investigators have also selected 3 sub-districts as control keeping an adequate buffer zone to avoid intervention spill-over effect. The investigators will select 30 community clinics from these sub-districts through a community scoring system to have the maximum impact of the program.

Selection of study participants: The community clinics (CCs) and its catchment area will be considered as clusters. From the list of community clinics, required numbers of clusters will be randomly selected through a proportionate sampling. From the randomly selected CCs, the required number of study participants will be enrolled after conducting household listing.

Data collection procedures: The children will be enrolled from the catchment area of community clinics and be followed up for 12 months. During the follow-up period, the children will be visited periodically to assess their exposure to GMP service and also their feeding practice. Anthropometric measurements will be taken at baseline and then tri-monthly till the end of the 12 months follow-up period. Mother's knowledge and attitude about IYCF issues will be assessed at baseline and at an endpoint survey. Service provider's skills and perception about GMP will be assessed at baseline and at end-line. Quality of GMP implementation will be at baseline and periodically during the follow-up period.

Data collection tools: Household surveys, key informant interviews (KII), and observation.

Data analysis The survey data will be analyzed using STATA software (version 13). The summary statistics would be expressed as means with standard deviations, medians or percentages, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) where appropriate. To assess differences in mean among the factories, ANOVA and for categorical outcomes, chi-square statistical comparisons of proportions with 95% confidence intervals, will be calculated. A difference-of-difference (DID) analysis of quantitative outcome data will be done. To identify significant predictors associated with the main outcome indicators, bi-variate and multiple regression analyses will be employed.

Thematic analysis will be followed for qualitative information collected through participant's caregiver interview, key informant interview, and observation. Following preparation of the transcript, responses will be coded according to themes (a priori), sub-themes and emergent issues, if any. Triangulation of data derived from different methods will be carried out to validate qualitative information.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children aged between 6-12 months living in community clinic catchment area
2. Free from any acute or chronic illness(es)
3. Not a known case of a congenital anomaly or chromosomal abnormality
4. Not severely stunted (length-for-age Z score, LAZ \<-3) or wasted (weight-for-length Z score, WLZ \<-3) or underweight (weight-for-age Z score, WAZ \<-3)
5. Not enrolled in any other intervention program
6. Caregiver report to have no plans to move out of the catchment area for at least 6 months following enrolment in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

Children's parents who will decline consent will not be enrolled in the study

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