Effectiveness of Local Food Solutions for the Prevention of Acute Malnutrition in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia (ELOFSAM)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The lack of diversified and enriched complementary foods is one of the key causes of the high burden of acute malnutrition among 6-23 months old children in Ethiopia. Thus, a new innovative way of diversifying and enriching complementary foods is essential in communities where vulnerable populations are likely to have nutrient gaps in their typical diets and multiple micronutrient deficiencies. The purpose of this project is to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of locally produced cereal based foods (LP-CBFs) and small quantity lipid based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) as preventive interventions to effectively reduce the burden of acute malnutrition among 6-23 months old children in the post conflict settings of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

Official Title
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Acceptability and Effectiveness of Local Food Solutions for the Prevention of Acute Malnutrition in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia (ELOFSAM)

Conditions
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Acute Malnutrition in Childhood

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Bahgina
* Dietary Supplement: SQLNS


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All 6-23 months old children Exclusion Criteria: 6-23 months old children with severe acute malnutrition.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Months
Maximum Age: 23 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Bahgina group<br>The Bahgina treatment group will be supplemented with Bahgina, a locally produced cereal based product for a maximum of six months at 200g/day. | Dietary Supplement: Bahgina<br>* Bahgina, a locally produced cereal based food, will be provided at 200g/day/child for a duration of six months on top of the routine nutrition services provided by the local government and nutrition partners.<br>|
| Experimental: SQLNS group<br>The small quantity lipid based nutrient supplements (SQLNS) group will be provided with 20g of SQLNS/day for a maximum of six months. | Dietary Supplement: SQLNS<br>* Small quantity lipid based nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) will be provided at 20g/day/child for a duration of six months on top of the routine nutrition services provided by the local government and nutrition partners.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>The control group will get nothing except the routine nutrition services and products provided by the local government sectors. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acute Malnutrition | The burden or prevalence of acute malnutrition among 6-23 months old children. | six months |