Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is associated with high mortality rates and impairments in growth and development in children that do survive. There are complex nutritional, health, and behavioural risk factors involving severely malnourished children and their primary caregivers, requiring integrated intervention approaches.
A cluster-randomized controlled trial at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-day hospital-based intervention program directed at primary caregivers. This program, titled the Kusamala Program, which means “to take care” in Chichewa, aims to improve developmental and nutritional outcomes in children with SAM. Up to six primary caregivers and their children will be enrolled to groups each week, which will be randomly allocated to intervention or comparison arms. The intervention package consists of interactive counselling on three modules: 1) nutrition and feeding; 2) water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and 3) psychosocial stimulation. Data collection will be performed at enrolment, at discharge from hospital, and at 6 months following discharge. The primary outcome is child development assessed with the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT), a validated measure of gross and fine motor, language, and social development.
This intervention program is unique because it utilizes primary caregivers’ time spent in-hospital while children receive treatment for SAM. The program has the potential to be effective in addressing multiple aspects of child, nutrition, and development.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Robert Bandsma, Allison Daniel, Mike Bwanali, Meta van den Heuvel, Melissa Gladstone, Wieger Voskuijl, Celine Bourdon, Kate Chidzalo, Jenala Njirammadzi, Emmie Mbale
Kusamala Nurses:
Mike Bwanali, Agatha Gausi, Vetta Senyela, Alice Tsokonombwe, Phyllis Kufakwawa
Kusamala Publications:
Other Relevant Publications:
Funders
The Kusamala Program is supported by Grand Challenges Canada (1707-07564). Grand Challenges Canada is funded by the Government of Canada and is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact®.
