Testing Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutritional Supplements to Improve Vaccination and Child Health in Rural Chad and Niger

What this Trial Is About

Malnutrition and infectious diseases create a harmful cycle that severely affects children in low- and middle-income countries, increasing their risk of death and developmental problems. This study focuses on rural areas of Chad and Niger, where malnutrition rates are high and vaccination coverage is low. Researchers are evaluating whether giving children small-quantity lipid-based nutritional supplements SQ-LNS alongside routine immunization improves vaccination rates and child health in these vulnerable populations. The study compares two groups one receiving the standard Expanded Program on Immunization EPI alone, and the other receiving EPI combined with daily SQ-LNS supplementation for children aged 6 to 18 months. SQ-LNS are nutrient-rich, ready-to-use supplements given as a 20-gram sachet per day to support child growth and development. The program runs for 12 months, with SQ-LNS distributed through health centers and community health huts, integrated with existing vaccination services. Participants will be assessed through annual household surveys measuring vaccination coverage, nutritional status using mid-upper arm circumference MUAC, and treatment outcomes for malnourished children. Additional qualitative research will explore barriers and facilitators to vaccination and supplementation, including gender influences. Researchers will also use modeling and economic analyses to estimate the health impact and cost-effectiveness of the combined program, with follow-up planned for up to one year after starting supplementation.

OptiMAx Will Test Whether SQ-LNS Incentivises Vaccination Uptake in Rural Chad and Niger, With a Cost Effectiveness Analysis. It Will Also Look at Whether Having Received SQ-LNS Before Becoming Malnourished Leads to Better Outcomes for Children Treated Under the OptiMA Protocol.