title: Theory-driven process evaluation of a complementary feeding trial in four countries.
abstract: We conducted a theory-driven process evaluation of a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing two types of complementary feeding (meat versus fortified cereal) on infant growth in Guatemala, Pakistan, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We examined process evaluation indicators for the entire study cohort (N = 1236) using chi-square tests to examine differences between treatment groups. We administered exit interviews to 219 caregivers and 45 intervention staff to explore why caregivers may or may not have performed suggested infant feeding behaviors. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between caregiver scores and infant linear growth velocity. As message recall increased, irrespective of treatment group, linear growth velocity increased when controlling for other factors (P < 0.05), emphasizing the importance of study messages. Our detailed process evaluation revealed few differences between treatment groups, giving us confidence that the main trial's lack of effect to reverse the progression of stunting cannot be explained by differences between groups or inconsistencies in protocol implementation. These findings add to an emerging body of literature suggesting limited impact on stunting of interventions initiated during the period of complementary feeding in impoverished environments. The early onset and steady progression support the provision of earlier and comprehensive interventions.
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Epidemiology, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA, Multidisciplinary Health Institute, Francisco Marroquin University, Guatemala City 01011, Guatemala, Institute for Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala City 01011, Guatemala, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka 34681, Zambia, Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Department of Community Health Science and Family Medicine, Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan, Department of Pediatrics/Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka 34681, Zambia, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garces
authors.forename: Manolo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazariegos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michael Hambidge
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manasyan
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tshefu
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lokangaka
authors.forename: Neelofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sami
authors.forename: Waldemar A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Carlo
authors.forename: Carl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Omrana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goco
authors.forename: Elwyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chomba
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koso-Thomas
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010154:Pakistan; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015024:Zambia