Zambia

Research in Zambia focuses on the association between home-installed growth charts and small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) on growth faltering on infants. Clusters in Choma, Mansa and Lusaka districts in Zambia were assigned to one of four arms: 

1) no intervention (control)

2) home installation of a wall chart that contained a growth monitoring tool along with key messages on infant and young child feeding and nutrition (growth charts only)

3) 30-sachets of SQ-LNS delivered each month (SQ-LNS only)

4) growth charts + SQ-LNS

The primary outcomes were children’s height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and stunting (HAZ < -2) after 18-months of intervention. Secondary outcomes included hemoglobin, anemia (Hb<11.0g/dL), weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), underweight (WAZ<-2) and child development measured by the Global Scales of Early Development (GSED). 

Research was funded by Sint Antonius Stichting (NA) with collaborators from the University of Basel and Swiss TPH, Innovations for Poverty Action Zambia, and the Zambia Ministry of Health.