Social Networks for Improving Maternal & Child Health
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Community-based Health and Nutrition Counseling via Indigenous Social Support Structures (ISSS).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Maternal and Child Health, Maternal Nutrition. Basic parameters: 15 years — 49 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Ethiopia
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Improving the Health and Nutritional Status of Mothers and Children Using Indigenous Community Structure in Northwest Ethiopia
Overview
Brief Summary: Improving Maternal and Child Health via Indigenous Structures The goal of this cluster randomized controlled community trial is to assess the effect of community-based interventions using indigenous community structures on the improvement of health and nutritional status in pregnant women (recruited before 16 weeks of gestation) and their children in Northwest Ethiopia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a community-based intervention using indigenous structures significantly improve the uptake of maternal health services (ANC, delivery, and PNC)? * Does the intervention effectively reduce the prevalence of maternal depression during the pregnancy and postpartum periods? * To what extent does the intervention improve the nutritional status (reducing thinness and stunting) of mothers and their children? Researchers will compare a group of women receiving counseling from trained indigenous social support groups to a control group receiving only the routine health and nutrition education provided by the standard healthcare system to see if the indigenous approach leads to better health and nutritional outcomes. Participants will: * Receive four counseling sessions during pregnancy (starting before 16 weeks of gestation) and four additional sessions during the lactation period, conducted in their homes by trained social support groups. * Receive educational leaflets containing core health and nutrition messages and appropriate pictures. * Participate in two rounds of surveys (baseline, and endline) involving interviewer-administered questionnaires. * Undergo physical measurements, specifically mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), to assess nutritional status.
Interventions
- Behavioral Community-based Health and Nutrition Counseling via Indigenous Social Support Structures (ISSS)
The intervention consists of a structured behavioral and educational program delivered via existing indigenous social support structures (ISSS), such as Idir, Senbete, or Equb. Key components include: Frequency: Eight (8) community-based counseling sessions in total. Four sessions occur during pregnancy (starting before 16 weeks gestation) and four sessions occur during the lactation period (up to 6 months postpartum). Personnel: Counseling is delivered by trained members of the indigenous so
Primary outcome measures
- Maternal Health Service Utilization [Time frame: From enrollment (<16 weeks gestation) to 6 weeks postpartum.]
- Maternal Nutritional Status [Time frame: Baseline (<16 weeks) and 6 weeks postpartum]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Pregnant women residing in the selected study clusters (kebeles)
Pregnant women who are in their first trimester (gestational age less than 16 weeks) at the time of recruitment.
Pregnant women who intend to reside in the study area for the duration of the pregnancy and at least six months postpartum.
Exclusion criteria
Pregnant women with known pre-existing chronic medical conditions (e.g., chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or cardiac disease) that require specialized medical management.
Pregnant women who are unable to communicate or undergo the interview process due to severe illness or cognitive impairment.
Pregnant women who are already participating in another clinical trial or health intervention study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
Study locations
Ethiopia · 1 center
- Bahir Dar University — Bahir Dar
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07522047 · 40005/2024