Microfinance Institutions as a Platform for Global Health

November 29, 2016 updated by: Aaron Isaac Baum, Columbia University

Microfinance Institutions as a Platform for Global Health Delivery: Evidence From a Pilot Program

This study will analyze data from a program run by an microfinance institution (MFI) in Haiti from 2011-2012 where the MFI delivered health goods to some of the villages where it operates. By comparing health indicators among children who were in villages targeted by the program initially to children who were in villages that were not targeted by the program until later, the investigators hope to understand if the MFI successfully delivered the intervention and offer a practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Two-thirds of child deaths could be prevented with increased coverage of existing health products and services; however, effectively delivering health products and services to rural populations in low-income countries remains a practical challenge. This study investigates whether microfinance institutions (MFIs), having invested in community-based infrastructure to deliver financial services to 200 million rural poor households globally, offer a practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.

The investigators intend to analyze data from a pilot program implemented by an MFI in Haiti during 2011-2012 that distributed an evidence-based health good, micronutrient powders (MNPs), to 526 children in 34 villages where the MFI operates. Micronutrient deficiency is estimated to be responsible for over 1 million deaths of children under five per year. MNPs are one form of micronutrient supplementation proven to effectively combat micronutrient deficiency.

Published cost estimates indicate that leveraging existing supply chains could cut the total cost of mass MNP delivery by 25%. Given MFIs reach 200 million households globally, MFI-based delivery of health goods may be a promising route to improving health outcomes efficiently.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

526

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10023
        • Columbia University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

6 months to 4 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children aged 6-54 months who lived in a household where the head of household was an microfinance client.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Lives in a household where the head of household was an microfinance client.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severely anemic (Hgb < 70 g/L)
  • Severely malnourished (Mid Upper Arm Circumference < 110 mm)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Targeted initially
Children who were in the Haiti villages and targeted by the MFI program with MNP delivery initially.
Dietary supplement: MNP

Program that delivered MNP and implemented by an MFI in Haiti during 2011-2012.

One form of micronutrient supplementation proven to effectively combat micronutrient deficiency.

Other Names:
  • Micronutrient powders
  • Sprinkles
Targeted later
Children who were in the Haiti villages and not targeted by the MFI program with MNP delivery until later.
Dietary supplement: MNP

Program that delivered MNP and implemented by an MFI in Haiti during 2011-2012.

One form of micronutrient supplementation proven to effectively combat micronutrient deficiency.

Other Names:
  • Micronutrient powders
  • Sprinkles

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in blood hemoglobin concentration
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months
Baseline, 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Prevalence of diagnosis of anemia
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Columbia University

Investigators

  • Study Director: Aaron I Baum, PhD, Columbia University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 17, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

June 21, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 30, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 29, 2016

Last Verified

November 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AAAP7004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Undecided

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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