Stunting Prevention Project in Thatta and Sujawal Districts, Sindh Province, Pakistan

Summary

Widespread food insecurity and malnutrition are largely the main impairing factors for human capital development in Pakistan. Rates of chronic malnutrition are very high, and acute malnutrition is critical: 44% of children under five are stunted and nationwide global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates amongst children under five exceed the WHO critical threshold of 15%. Nutritional status trends also show a deteriorating situation since 1994, when stunting rates were at 36%.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of food based interventions to prevent stunting among children under-five years with focus on window of opportunity (1000 days from conception to 2 years) for addressing stunting. Pregnant women, lactating mothers and children 6-59 months will receive supplements on monthly basis in intervention areas, while participants in control areas will receive routine public health services available in the study area.

Conditions

• Malnutrition

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Wheat Soya Blend (WSB)

A monthly ration of 5 Kg of Wheat Soya Blend (WSB) will be given to pregnant women every month during pregnancy and lactating mothers for six months after giving birth

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Wawa Mum

Children 6-23 months of age will receive a daily ration of 50 gram of Wawa Mum during study period

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Micronutrient Powders (MNP)

Children 24-59 months of age will receive a sachet of Micronutrient Powders (MNP) in alternate days

BEHAVIORAL

Behavior change and preventive health massages

Behavior change and preventive health massages will be delivered by lady health workers (LHWs) during monthly visits and in group meetings

Sponsors & Collaborators

• United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

  collaborator OTHER

• Pakistan Ministry of Health

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Aga Khan University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sajid B Soofi, FCPS · Aga Khan University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Months

Max Age

59 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-08-31

Primary Completion

2018-06-30

Completion

2018-09-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations