Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding

NCT05665049 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: steb1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates in Lao PDR. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Are social transfers effective at increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months
2. 2.Are social transfers cost-effective
3. 3.What are the long-term impacts of social transfers for breastfeeding on child development

Conditions

Breast Feeding, Exclusive; Breastfeeding; Development, Child; Development, Infant

Keywords

breastfeeding; early childhood development; social transfer; cash transfer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6-Months Postpartum

  The primary endpoint is the proportion of women exclusively breastfeeding at 6-months postpartum assessed using a questionnaire. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as receipt of only human milk - which is consistent with the World Health Organization guidelines. At six months postpartum, mothers are asked if they are still currently breastfeeding. If they answer yes, a follow-up question on if they provided any other liquids, solids, or supplements to their child to determine the exclusive breastfeeding status.

  6 Months Postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Anthropometric Measurements

  1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years

• Mother and Child Anemia Levels

  1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years

• Early Childhood Development

  2 years

• Early Childhood Development

  3 years

• Complementary Breastfeeding Duration

  6 months, 1 year, 2 years

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Only educational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided.

Intervention Group 1 - Non-Conditional Social Transfer

EXPERIMENTAL

Educational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided. At the baseline visit, participants are told that at the 6-month visit, they will receive a gift of their choice - which is meant to show our appreciation and support for their efforts in breastfeeding.

Behavioral: Social Transfer

Intervention Group 2 - Conditional Social Transfer

EXPERIMENTAL

Educational materials focused on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and the current international recommendations are provided. At the baseline visit, participants are told that at the 6-month visit, they will receive a gift of their choice if they are still exclusively breastfeeding.

Behavioral: Social Transfer

Interventions

Social Transfer BEHAVIORAL

Social transfers are defined as a cash or in-kind transfer. Using results from a qualitative study, we identified the following culturally grounded social transfer options that is responsive to the identified needs of new mothers. Based on the monthly Lao PDR minimum wage and an estimated 15 full working days needed to exclusively breastfeed over a 6-month period, a social transfer of approximately $75 would fairly subsidize women's breastfeeding efforts. Therefore all social transfer options equate to approximately 75 USD. The options include: diapers, child developmental toys, cash, or a combination of these.

Intervention Group 1 - Non-Conditional Social Transfer; Intervention Group 2 - Conditional Social Transfer

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 42 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Given birth in the last four weeks
• Exclusively breastfeeding at time of recruitment
• Lives in Vientiane in one of the following districts: Chanthabury, Sikhottabong, Sangthong, or Parkngum and is included in the VITERBI cohort

You may not qualify if:

• Plans to move permanently outside study area
• Has a medical, intellectual or psychological disability
• Contraindication for breastfeeding
• Preterm births
• Children born with \< 2500 grams

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute: lead
• Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI): collaborator
• University of Basel: collaborator
• Swiss National Science Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI)

Vientiane, Laos

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Wallenborn JT, Sonephet S, Sayasone S, Siengsounthone L, Kounnavong S, Fink G. Conditional and Unconditional Social Transfers, Early-Life Nutrition, and Child Growth: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Feb 1;179(2):129-136. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5079.

  PMID: 39680397 DERIVED

• Sonephet S, Kounnavong S, Zinsstag L, Vonaesch P, Sayasone S, Siengsounthone L, Odermatt P, Fink G, Wallenborn JT. Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding (STEB) Intervention in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 May 3;13:e54768. doi: 10.2196/54768.

  PMID: 38700928 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Feeding

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Jordyn T Wallenborn, PhD, MPH

  Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 21, 2022
• First Posted: December 27, 2022
• Study Start: August 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: October 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: January 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Locations

LA (1)