title: Effects of community-based sales of micronutrient powders on morbidity episodes in preschool children in Western Kenya.
abstract: Although the use of micronutrient powders (MNPs) is considered the preferred approach for childhood anemia control, concerns about iron-related morbidity from clinical trials have challenged programmatic scale-up.
  
  
  
  We aimed to measure the effects of community-based sales of MNPs on diarrhea-, fever-, cough-, and malaria-morbidity episodes in children 6-35 mo of age.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in rural Western Kenya where 60 villages were randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. MNPs (containing iron, vitamin A, zinc, and 11 other micronutrients) and other health products (e.g., insecticide-treated bednets, soap, and water disinfectant) were marketed in 30 intervention villages from June 2007 to March 2008. Household visits every 2 wk were used to monitor self-reported MNP use and morbidity (illness episodes in the previous 24 h and hospitalizations in the previous 2 wk) in both groups. Iron, vitamin A, anemia, malaria, and anthropometric measures were assessed at baseline and at 12 mo of follow-up. Data were analyzed by intent-to-treat analyses.
  
  
  
  Of 1062 children enrolled in the study, 1038 children (97.7%) were followed (a total of 14,204 surveillance visits). Mean MNP intake in intervention villages was 0.9 sachets/wk. Children in intervention villages, compared with children in control villages, had ~60% fewer hospitalizations for diarrhea (0.9% compared with 2.4%, respectively; P = 0.03) and 70% fewer hospitalizations for fever (1.8% compared with 5.3%, respectively; P = 0.003) but no significant differences in hospitalizations for respiratory illness (1.1% compared with 2.2%, respectively; P = 0.11) or malaria (3.1% compared with 2.9%, respectively; P = 0.82). There were no differences between groups in the numbers of episodes of diarrhea, cough, or fever.
  
  
  
  MNP use in Western Kenya through market-based community sales was not associated with increased infectious morbidity in young children and was associated with decreased hospitalizations for diarrhea and fever. An integrated distribution of MNPs with other health interventions should be explored further in settings with a high child malnutrition and infection burden. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01088958.
authors: Nutrition Branch and Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA psuchde@emory.edu.
authors: Parminder S
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0350-3469
authors: PS
authors: Suchdev
authors: Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: O Yaw
authors: OY
authors: Addo
authors: Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Reynaldo
authors: R
authors: Martorell
authors: Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Frederick Ke
authors: FK
authors: Grant
authors: Nutrition Branch and.
authors: Laird J
authors: LJ
authors: Ruth
authors: Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, CDC, Atlanta, GA; and.
authors: Minal K
authors: MK
authors: Patel
authors: Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, CDC, Atlanta, GA; and.
authors: Patricia C
authors: PC
authors: Juliao
authors: Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, CDC, Atlanta, GA; and.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Quick
authors: Nutrition Branch and Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Flores-Ayala
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003132:Commerce; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009017:Morbidity; D011208:Powders; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D011208:Powders
keywords: Kenya; anemia; hospitalizations; malaria; micronutrient powders; morbidity