Culaba

Researchers are evaluating a new community health worker (CHW) program called 'Flourish' implemented by the Philippine NGO International Care Ministries (ICM). This program builds on ICM's core 'Transform' program, a 15-week poverty alleviation initiative that focuses on households living in extreme poverty. The study aims to assess the impact of CHWs on reducing acute childhood malnutrition in hard-to-reach, low-income households. The trial uses a cluster randomized controlled design comparing communities receiving both Transform and Flourish programs to those receiving Transform alone. In the Flourish program, one participant from each Transform savings group is elected to serve as a CHW. These CHWs are trained to screen for illness, provide health counseling, refer to primary care, and deliver health supplies to households in both the savings group and the wider community. Each CHW is equipped with a mobile phone to assist in screening, follow-up, and data collection. Communities randomized to the Treatment arm receive both Transform and Flourish, while Control arm communities receive Transform only. Participants will complete a baseline survey in July 2023 and an endline survey 18 months later in February-March 2025. The endline survey includes child malnutrition screening by measuring age, weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference. Children identified as malnourished in the Treatment arm will receive follow-up care through the CHW program, while those in the Control arm will be referred to local health services. The main outcome is the prevalence of child malnutrition assessed at the endline survey, with additional analysis of weight-for-height scores.