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Trials
Published in: Trials 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Study protocol

Improving child nutrition and development through community-based childcare centres in Malawi – The NEEP-IE study: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Authors: Aulo Gelli, Amy Margolies, Marco Santacroce, Katie Sproule, Sophie Theis, Natalie Roschnik, Aisha Twalibu, George Chidalengwa, Amrik Cooper, Tyler Moorhead, Melissa Gladstone, Patricia Kariger, Mangani Kutundu

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

The Nutrition Embedded Evaluation Programme Impact Evaluation (NEEP-IE) study is a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of a childcare centre-based integrated nutritional and agricultural intervention on the diets, nutrition and development of young children in Malawi. The intervention includes activities to improve nutritious food production and training/behaviour-change communication to improve food intake, care and hygiene practices. This paper presents the rationale and study design for this randomised control trial.

Methods

Sixty community-based childcare centres (CBCCs) in rural communities around Zomba district, Malawi, were randomised to either (1) a control group where children were attending CBCCs supported by Save the Children’s Early Childhood Health and Development (ECD) programme, or (2) an intervention group where nutritional and agricultural support activities were provided alongside the routine provision of the Save the Children’s ECD programme. Primary outcomes at child level include dietary intake (measured through 24-h recall), whilst secondary outcomes include child development (Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT)) and nutritional status (anthropometric measurements). At household level, primary outcomes include smallholder farmer production output and crop-mix (recall of last production season). Intermediate outcomes along theorised agricultural and nutritional pathways were measured. During this trial, we will follow a mixed-methods approach and undertake child-, household-, CBCC- and market-level surveys and assessments as well as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with project stakeholders.

Discussion

Assessing the simultaneous impact of preschool meals on diets, nutrition, child development and agriculture is a complex undertaking. This study is the first to explicitly examine, from a food systems perspective, the impact of a preschool meals programme on dietary choices, alongside outcomes in the nutritional, child development and agricultural domains. The findings of this evaluation will provide evidence to support policymakers in the scale-up of national programmes.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry, ID: ISRCTN96497560. Registered on 21 September 2016.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
Save the Children, unpublished.
 
2
The Protecting Early Childhood Development (PECD) trial.
 
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Metadata
Title
Improving child nutrition and development through community-based childcare centres in Malawi – The NEEP-IE study: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors
Aulo Gelli
Amy Margolies
Marco Santacroce
Katie Sproule
Sophie Theis
Natalie Roschnik
Aisha Twalibu
George Chidalengwa
Amrik Cooper
Tyler Moorhead
Melissa Gladstone
Patricia Kariger
Mangani Kutundu
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2003-7

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