A randomized controlled trial of home visits by neighborhood mentor mothers to improve children's nutrition in South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Malnourished children and babies with birth weights under 2500 g are at high risk for negative outcomes over their lifespans. Philani, a paraprofessional home visiting program, was developed to improve nutritional outcomes for young children in South Africa. One "mentor mother" was recruited from each of 37 neighborhoods in Cape Town, South Africa. Mentor mothers were trained to conduct home visits to weigh children under six years old and to support mothers to problem-solve life challenges, especially around nutrition. Households with underweight children were assigned randomly on a 2:1 ratio to the Philani program (n = 500) or to a standard care condition (n = 179); selection effects occurred and children in the intervention households weighed less at recruitment. Children were evaluated

SUBMITTER: le Roux IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3262232 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature