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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Study protocol

Effect of provision of an integrated neonatal survival kit and early cognitive stimulation package by community health workers on developmental outcomes of infants in Kwale County, Kenya: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

Authors: Lisa G. Pell, Diego G. Bassani, Lucy Nyaga, Isaac Njagi, Catherine Wanjiku, Thulasi Thiruchselvam, William Macharia, Ripudaman S. Minhas, Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo, Amyn Lakhani, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Robert Armstrong, Shaun K. Morris

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Each year, more than 200 million children under the age of 5 years, almost all in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), fail to achieve their developmental potential. Risk factors for compromised development often coexist and include inadequate cognitive stimulation, poverty, nutritional deficiencies, infection and complications of being born low birthweight and/or premature. Moreover, many of these risk factors are closely associated with newborn morbidity and mortality. As compromised development has significant implications on human capital, inexpensive and scalable interventions are urgently needed to promote neurodevelopment and reduce risk factors for impaired development.

Method/Design

This cluster randomized trial aims at evaluating the impact of volunteer community health workers delivering either an integrated neonatal survival kit, an early stimulation package, or a combination of both interventions, to pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy, compared to the current standard of care in Kwale County, Kenya. The neonatal survival kit comprises a clean delivery kit (sterile blade, cord clamp, clean plastic sheet, surgical gloves and hand soap), sunflower oil emollient, chlorhexidine, ThermoSpotTM, Mylar infant sleeve, and a reusable instant heater. Community health workers are also equipped with a portable hand-held electric scale. The early cognitive stimulation package focuses on enhancing caregiver practices by teaching caregivers three key messages that comprise combining a gentle touch with making eye contact and talking to children, responsive feeding and caregiving, and singing. The primary outcome measure is child development at 12 months of age assessed with the Protocol for Child Monitoring (Infant and Toddler version). The main secondary outcome is newborn mortality.

Discussion

This study will provide evidence on effectiveness of delivering an innovative neonatal survival kit and/or early stimulation package to pregnant women in Kwale County, Kenya. Study findings will help inform policy on the most appropriate interventions for promoting healthy brain development and reduction of newborn morbidity and mortality in Kenya and other similar settings.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02208960 (August 1, 2014)
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Metadata
Title
Effect of provision of an integrated neonatal survival kit and early cognitive stimulation package by community health workers on developmental outcomes of infants in Kwale County, Kenya: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial
Authors
Lisa G. Pell
Diego G. Bassani
Lucy Nyaga
Isaac Njagi
Catherine Wanjiku
Thulasi Thiruchselvam
William Macharia
Ripudaman S. Minhas
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo
Amyn Lakhani
Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Robert Armstrong
Shaun K. Morris
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-1042-5

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