Comprehensive Nutritional Support for Children in Zambia (ZamCNC) - A Pilot Investigation

NCT07153913 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ZamCnC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In a recently completed intervention study, more than 50% of children in Lusaka were found to be stunted by age two, even when nutritional supplements were provided. It seems likely that these high rates of stunting are primarily due to inadequate basic nutritional intake. The main goal of this project is investigate this conjecture through a small pilot study that will be conducted in the urban area of Lusaka.

Conditions

Malnourished Children; Stunting of Growth

Keywords

stunting; food supplementation; counseling; cash tranfers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Height-for-age z-score

  Children's height for age z-score after six months of interventions

  measured approximately 6 months after initiation of intervention

Study Arms (2)

Control arm

NO INTERVENTION

Families in control group will not receive any support through the study

Food provision and nutritional counseling

EXPERIMENTAL

Families will receive intensive support including bi-weekly nutritional counseling and weekly dropoffs of locally acquired food.

Other: Intensive growth support

Interventions

Intensive growth support OTHER

For women in the intervention group, we will develop a nutritional plan for the child in collaboration with the mother. Mothers will then receive a visit every other week - during this visit, children's health and nutrition will be discussed, and height and weight will be measured by field officers. Detailed food recommendations will be made based on national and international infant and young child feeding guidelines. To ensure appropriate foods are available, field workers will drop off local foods on a weekly basis.

Food provision and nutritional counseling

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Months - 12 Months
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may not qualify if:

• expected to move
• no child health card
• participating in cash transfer programs

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Günther Fink: lead

Study Sites (1)

Innovations for Poverty Action Zambia

Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Growth Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Günther Fink, PhD

  Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Unit Head and Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2025
• First Posted: September 4, 2025
• Study Start: September 5, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ZA (1)