Efficacy of the Healthy Mother Healthy Baby Toolkit for Maternal and Child Nutrition in Ethiopia

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether adding a mother-baby nutrition toolkit to routine prenatal care can improve nutrition for mothers and infants in Amhara, Ethiopia. It addresses the high rates of undernutrition seen in Ethiopian women and children, focusing on the first 1,000 days from pregnancy through early childhood. The study is designed to assess the impact of this toolkit on maternal nutrition and infant growth during pregnancy and the first six months of life, providing evidence to support better nutrition counseling strategies. The study involves two groups: one receives the Healthy Mother Healthy Baby Toolkit, which includes a customized bowl with portion markings, a spoon for meal thickness assessment, and a counseling card about meal frequency, food groups, and hygiene; the other group receives the standard nutrition education, counseling, and supplementation provided by the Ethiopian government and the Saving Little Lives Initiative. The toolkit is given during pregnancy and early postpartum, with the study lasting through the infant's first 10 months. Participants will be monitored at various stages, including early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and multiple postpartum time points. Researchers will measure maternal weight gain, infant birth weight, infant growth scores, maternal arm circumference and height, dietary diversity, breastfeeding exclusivity, and feeding adequacy. Data collection includes baseline assessments and follow-ups at birth, 7 days, 4 months, and 9 months after birth. The study will last until April 2026, with ongoing evaluation of nutrition and growth outcomes.

Healthy Baby Healthy Mother Toolkit