A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Agricultural Livelihood Intervention to Improve Maternal and Newborn Health and Nutrition in Kenya: Mama Shamba

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether an agricultural intervention can reduce food scarcity and improve health outcomes among pregnant women and their infants in sub-Saharan Africa. The study focuses on 410 pregnant women, half living with HIV, enrolled between 9 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It seeks to understand how sustainable farming skills and resources might enhance maternal and infant health, socioeconomic status, and behavior during pregnancy and up to 12 months after birth. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive the agricultural intervention immediately or to receive it after the study concludes. The intervention includes providing agricultural supplies such as irrigation pumps, seeds, and fertilizers, along with training in agriculture, agribusiness, and safety. A model farm is also used for training and to supply vegetables until participants' farms begin producing. Control participants receive the full intervention after study follow-up. During the study, women will be monitored through clinical and physical measurements at multiple time points: 30 and 36 weeks gestation, delivery, and 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum. Researchers will assess infant length, birth weight, household food insecurity, depression, infant stunting, and empowerment measures. The study includes follow-up for one year after birth to evaluate the intervention's impact on health and nutrition.

An Agricultural Livelihood Intervention for Pregnant Women