Evaluation of REACTS-IN, an Intervention to Improve Nutrition, Hygiene, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

NCT06362837 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: P0117910-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 13,500
• Locations: 3 countries
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

This is an independent evaluation of World VIsion's 7-year quasi-experimental intervention to improve nutrition, nutrition-related rights and gender equality for women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age in rural Bangladesh, Kenya, and Tanzania. The evaluation will collect baseline, midline, and end-line data from intervention communities, schools, and health facilities. Only baseline and endline will be collected on the comparison communities. The evaluation objectives are to test if the intervention improved indicators for (i) child anthropometry, (ii) maternal and child dietary practices, (iii) women's empowerment, and (iv) equitable health service access for nutrition and sexual and reproductive needs. The evaluation analysis will take into account gender differences in the indicators.

Conditions

Stunting; Gender Equality; Acceptability of Health Care; Diet; Deficiency; Empowerment

Keywords

nutrition; gender equity; health services; sexual and reproductive rights; dietary diversity; anthropometry; sexual and reproductive health services; WASH

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Gender equality

  Percent of households with children \< 59.9 mo that have achieved gender equality

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

• Child anthropometry

  Percent of children 6-59 mo of age who are stunted

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

Secondary Outcomes (19)

• Antenatal care

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

• Contraception use by women and partners

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

• Child diet

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

• Sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

• Gender equitable health services for nutrition, health, and sexual and reproductive health

  Change between baseline and study completion, an average of 5 years

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Includes multiple activities, depending on country, including support of school-based iron-folic acid supplementation program; promotion of bio-fortified crops (sweet potatoes, beans, rice, corn); training on nutrition, water \& sanitation, gender equity for rural communities through community groups and for health facility staff; support to improve gender-sensitive health services for nutrition, sexual and reproductive health,

Behavioral: Education intervention on nutrition, gender equity, WASH, sexual and reproductive health rights; Dietary Supplement: school-based iron-folic acid supplement program; Behavioral: Health service training on equitable access to nutrition, health, and sexual and reproductive services; Dietary Supplement: bio-fortified crops

Comparison

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention will take place. Standard of care will be available in the health facilities and schools.

Interventions

school-based iron-folic acid supplement program DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The program will help support and promote the school-based programs of weekly iron and folic acid supplementation for adolescent girls, in countries where it is allowed.

Intervention

bio-fortified crops DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The program promotes and distributes bio-fortified crops, including orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, rice, beans, and corn

Intervention

Education intervention on nutrition, gender equity, WASH, sexual and reproductive health rights BEHAVIORAL

Educational training on nutrition, gender equity, WASH, sexual and reproductive health rights will take place in communities (including schools) for women, men, and adolescents

Intervention

Health service training on equitable access to nutrition, health, and sexual and reproductive services BEHAVIORAL

Training and support activities to make gender-equitable nutrition, health, and sexual and reproductive services in the health facilities

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• (i)Women:
• y of age
• biological mother of child in the home who is 0-5.9, 6-23.9, or 24-59.9 months
• has lived in the community for at 12 months
• (ii) Husbands/partners:
• no age limit
• lives in the home with index woman
• has lived in community for at least 12 months
• (iii) Adolescents:
• years
• male or female
• has been in target school for at least 6 months
• lives in the target community
• (iv) Children:
• , 6-23.9, or 24-59.9 months

You may not qualify if:

• (i) Children:
• no limitation on normal diet or growth (birth defects, illnesses)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University: lead
• World Vision Canada: collaborator
• Global Affairs Canada: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Brac University

Dhaka, Bangladesh

RECRUITING

Connar Consultants

Nairobi, Kenya

RECRUITING

Ifakara Health Institute

Ifakara, Tanzania

NOT YET RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Growth Disorders; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Malnutrition; Empowerment; Coitus

Interventions

Gender Equity; Therapeutic Irrigation; Sex; Health

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Behavior; Behavior; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Social Behavior; Sexual Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Inequities; Health Status; Demography; Population Characteristics; Hydrotherapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Investigative Techniques; Reproductive Physiological Phenomena; Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Grace S Marquis, PhD

  McGill University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Grace S Marquis, PhD

CONTACT

1-514-398-7839; grace.marquis@mcgill.ca

Aishat Abdu, PhD

CONTACT

aishat.abdu@mail.mcgill.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: This is a quasi-experimental design for the evaluation of an intervention that is in the community (including schools) as well as in the local health service facilities. The data collection at baseline, midline, and end-line will occur simultaneously in the intervention and comparison selected communities. Comparison communities will not be visited during midline. Participants are unique at each time point.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 4, 2024
• First Posted: April 12, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2029
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TA (1); KE (1); BA (1)