Study to Evaluate the Effect of Benazir Nashonuma Program on Reducing Low Birthweight and Child Stunting in Pregnant Women and Their Babies in Sindh and Punjab

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the impact of the Benazir Nashonuma Program BNP, which provides specialized nutritious food SNF alongside reproductive health interventions during pregnancy, on reducing low birthweight babies and stunting among children in low-income areas of Pakistan. Malnutrition and low birthweight are major public health issues in Pakistan, and the study focuses on pregnant women and young children to assess improvements in maternal and child nutritional status. The study compares pregnant women enrolled in BNP, who receive dietary supplements like Maamta for pregnant and lactating mothers and Wawamum for children aged 6-23 months, along with conditional cash transfers tied to health and nutrition activities, against pregnant women not enrolled in BNP. Participants are followed from pregnancy through delivery, and mother-baby pairs are monitored for 12 months after birth to observe outcomes. Participants will have their compliance with supplementation tracked and will undergo assessments including measurements of low birthweight at delivery, stunting at 6 and 12 months, and additional indicators like wasting, anemia, dietary diversity, and neurodevelopmental milestones. The study collects data on maternal health, infant feeding practices, and household food security, with follow-up visits throughout pregnancy and the first year of the childs life to monitor health and nutrition outcomes.

Impact of Benazir Nashonuma Program (BNP) on Maternal and Child Nutritional Status