Care groups in an integrated nutrition education intervention improved infant growth among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda’s West Nile post-emergency settlements: A cluster randomized trial

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300334
• Publication Date: 2024-03-15T17:47:35Z
• Authors: Joel J. Komakech; Sam R. Emerson; Ki L. Cole; Christine N. Walters; Hasina Rakotomanana; Margaret K. Kabah...; Deana A. Hildebrand; Barbara J. Stoecker
• Keywords: Underweight

Objective This study examined the effects of a peer-led integrated nutrition education intervention with maternal social support using Care Groups on infant growth among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. Methods A community-based cluster-randomized trial (RCT) was conducted 390 pregnant women (third trimester). Two arms were Mothers-only(n = 131) and Parents-combined (n 142) Control 117). WHO standards defined length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) for stunting, weight-for-age (WAZ) underweight weight-for-length (WLZ) wasting. The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) index proxy measure support. split-plot ANOVA tested interaction support, intervention, time after adjusting covariates. Further, pairwise comparisons explained mean differences arms. Results birth weight 3.1 ± 0.5 kg. Over period, stunting most prevalent (≥ 14%) compared to Mothers-only (< 9.5%) 7.4%) There significant Group by LAZ (F (6, 560) 28.91, p < 0.001), WAZ (5.8, 539.4) 12.70, 0.001) WLZ (5.3, 492.5) 3.38, 0.004). Simple main end showed that improved (Mothers-only vs. (mean difference, MD) 2.05, 0.001; Control, MD 2.00, 1.27, 1.28, 0.001). Conclusion Maternal an significantly underweight. Nutrition-sensitive approaches focused reducing child undernutrition post-emergency may benefit from programs. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05584969 .