Impact of a community-based package of interventions on child development in Zambia: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Community-based programmes are a critical platform for improving child health and development. We tested the impact of a community-based early childhood intervention package in rural Zambia.

Methods

We conducted a non-blinded cluster randomised controlled trial in Southern Province, Zambia. 30 clusters of villages were matched based on population density and distance from the nearest health centre, and randomly assigned to intervention (15 clusters and 268 caregiver-child dyads) or control (15 clusters and 258 caregiver-child dyads). Caregivers were eligible if they had a child aged 6-12 months at baseline. In intervention clusters, health workers screened children for infections and malnutrition, and invited caregivers to attend fortnightly group meetings coverin

SUBMITTER: Rockers PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5321359 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature