Grandi Byen: Supporting Child Growth and Development Through Integrated, Responsive Parenting, Nutrition and Hygiene

The premise of this trial is that a combined nutrition (eggs) and parenting behavior intervention (responsive parenting combined with the reinforcement of animal source foods and improved WASH) will synergistically result in improved child growth, development, and reduced enteric disease outcomes over and above a nutrition only intervention and standard well baby care.

This study is a 3-arm longitudinal randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the following groups for effectiveness in reducing young child stunted growth and enhancing overall development:1) standard well-baby care, (n=200); 2) nutrition intervention (one egg per day for 6 months), (n=200); and 3) multicomponent Grandi Byen intervention (responsive parenting, nutrition, hygiene + one egg per day for 6 months), (n=200).

Infants will be enrolled between 6-8 months of age and followed longitudinally for one year.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Parenting; Malnutrition, Child; Development, Child
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Nutrition Intervention; Behavioral: Grandi Byen

Detailed Description

A disturbingly high number of young children around the world experience stunted growth and development with irreparable consequences through the lifespan. Determinants of stunted growth and development are multi-factorial, including interactions between biological, behavioral, social, and environmental conditions, yet the evidence-base is minimal for integrated approaches to tackle the interwoven factors. Our group recently found significant impacts from an egg intervention on young child growth and biomarkers of nutrition and brain development. The effects on important psychosocial indicators of child development, however, were not assessed. Building on these findings and those of our pilot study of a group-based, multicomponent intervention (Grandi Byen, Haitian Creole for "grow well"), this randomized controlled trial (RCT) seeks to examine a greater breadth of egg intervention outcomes, the synergistic effects of adding psychoeducational parenting to the egg intervention, and mediating biological, behavioral and social factors.

The 3-arm longitudinal RCT will be carried out in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, where our group has a decade of research experience, established partnerships, and a strong research infrastructure. It is representative of resource-poor urban contexts globally, where parents face common economic and environmental challenges to child growth and development. The trial will compare the following groups for effectiveness in reducing young child stunted growth and enhancing overall development: 1) standard well-baby care, (n=200); 2) nutrition intervention (one egg per day for 6 months), (n=200); and 3) multicomponent Grandi Byen intervention (responsive parenting, nutrition, hygiene + one egg per day for 6 months), (n=200). Infants will be enrolled between 6-8 months of age and followed longitudinally for one year.

The specific aims of this project are:

Aim 1 (primary): To demonstrate the reproducibility and feasibility of egg-based interventions in reducing childhood stunting, and test its impact on development. Hypothesis 1: Linear growth will be increased by 0.30 LAZ in children receiving one egg per day compared to standard care. Hypothesis 2: Children receiving the egg intervention will have better cognitive, motor and language development compared to standard care. Question 1 (exploratory): Does an egg-based intervention impact social-emotional development?

Aim 2 (primary): To investigate the incremental benefit of Grandi Byen compared to egg only and standard care groups on primary outcomes of child growth and development. Hypothesis 3: Children of mothers receiving Grandi Byen will increase linear growth by 0.10 LAZ compared to the egg intervention. Hypothesis 4: Children of mothers receiving Grandi Byen will have higher scores on child cognition, language, motor, and socio-emotional development, with an effect size of 0.36 on cognition, compared to standard care. An economic evaluation will be conducted to compare the efficiency of the interventions.

Aim 3 (secondary). To explore pathways of intervention impacts on child growth and development by delineating the additive and synergistic effects of biological (nutrient biomarkers, bone age, and enteric disease), psychosocial (responsive parenting, cognitive stimulation), and environmental (hygiene and sanitation, diet) factors.

This study expands upon this earlier work by bringing together a transdisciplinary team spanning the biological and social sciences to work in partnership with Haitian collaborators. We will merge methods and concepts to produce comprehensive perspectives on several high priority areas including social, economic and biological factors that impact child brain development and function, nutrition among infants and very young children, determinants of bone health; and traumatic stress associated with growing up in abject poverty.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 600
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Patricia L Kohl, PhD; Phone Number: 314-935-7438; Email: pkohl@wustl.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Lora L Iannotti, PhD; Phone Number: 314-935-4396; Email: liannotti@wustl.edu

Study Locations

• Haiti
  • Cap-Haitien, Haiti
    • Recruiting
    • Hôpital Universitaire Justinien
    • Contact: Rony Saint Fleur, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 months to 8 months (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers/Caregivers 18 years or older of infants ages 6-8 months
• Infants ages 6-8 months
• Living in Petite Anse, Fort Saint Michel, Madeline, or similiar communities (Cap-Haitien, Haiti)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Multi-birth infant (twin, triplet, etc.)
• congenital health condition
• severe disabilities
• severely malnourished (WLZ<-3)
• child has an allergy to animal-source foods (specifically eggs, milk, or fish).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Standard well-baby care; Children in this arm (control group), as well as children in the two intervention groups, will receive standard care as outlined in the Essential Package of Health Services by Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP). This includes a World Health Organization (WHO) immunization schedule of vaccines, high dose vitamin A supplements, and growth monitoring and promotion.
Experimental: Nutrition Intervention; Children in this arm will receive one egg per day for six months.	Dietary supplement: Nutrition Intervention; One egg per day for six months
Experimental: Grandi Byen; This arm comprises a multicomponent intervention on responsive parenting, nutrition, hygiene, and one egg per day for six months for children.	Behavioral: Grandi Byen; Multicomponent intervention on responsive parenting, nutrition, hygiene + one egg per day for 6 months

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Child Growth: Changes in length-for-age Z-score (LAZ)	Child length or height will be measured in centimeters (cm). Length-for-age Z-scores will be calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards, accounting for the child sex and age in months.	Baseline and months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Child Growth: Changes in weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ)	Child weight will be measured in kilograms (kg). Weight-for-age Z-scores will be calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards, accounting for the child sex and age in months.	Baseline and months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Child Growth: Changes in head circumference-for-age Z-score (HCZ)	Child head circumference will be measured in centimeters (cm). Head circumference-for-age Z-scores will be calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards, accounting for the child sex and age in months.	Baseline and months 3, 6, 9, and 12
Child Development: Changes in ASQ- Socio-Emotional (ASQ-SE) score	The Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Socio-Emotional Questionnaire (ASQ-SE2) will be used to assess and score child socio-emotional development.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Child Development: Changes in ASQ Communication score	The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will be used to assess and score children's communication skills.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Child Development: Changes in ASQ Gross Motor score	The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will be used to assess and score children's gross motor development.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Child Development: Changes in ASQ Fine Motor score	The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will be used to assess and score children's fine motor development.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Child Development: Changes in ASQ Problem Solving score	The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will be used to assess and score children's problem solving skills.	Baseline and months 6 and 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)	Plasma concentration of DHA measured in µg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Choline	Plasma concentration of Choline measured in µg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Iron (Fe)	Plasma concentration of Iron (Fe) measured in mg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Zinc (Zn)	Plasma concentration of Zinc (Zn) measured in mg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Iodine (I)	Plasma concentration of Iodine (I) measured in mg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Nutrient Biomarkers: Changes in Plasma Concentration of Selenium (Se)	Plasma concentration of Selenium (Se) measured in µg/mL	Baseline and month 6
Child Bone Health: Changes in Bone Age Z-score	Bone age z-scores are used as a measure of the child's bone health.	Baseline and months 3, 6, and 12
Child Dietary Intake	24-hour recalls and food frequency recalls are used to assess nutrient intakes, dietary diversity, and consumption of Animal-Source Foods (ASFs).	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Responsive Parenting: Changes in PICCOLO Affection Score	Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO) will be used to assess parent-child interactions, and a score for Affection will be calculated based on questionnaire items.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Responsive Parenting: Changes in PICCOLO Responsiveness Score	Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO) will be used to assess parent-child interactions, and a score for Responsiveness will be calculated based on questionnaire items.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Responsive Parenting: Changes in PICCOLO Encouragement Score	Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO) will be used to assess parent-child interactions, and a score for Encouragement will be calculated based on questionnaire items.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Responsive Parenting: Changes in HOME Scores	The Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory will be used in assessing the home environment.	Baseline and months 6 and 12
Child Morbidities	Diarrhea, respiratory conditions, allergies.	Baseline and months 3, 6, 9, 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
• Collaborators: Hôpital Universitaire Justinien; Université Publique du Nord au Cap-Haïtien; Konbit Sante
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lora L Iannotti, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kohl PL, Gyimah EA, Diaz J, Kuhlmann FM, Dulience SJ, Embaye F, Brown DS, Guo S, Luby JL, Nicholas JL, Turner J, Chapnick M, Pierre JM, Boncy J, St Fleur R, Black MM, Iannotti LL. Grandi Byen-supporting child growth and development through integrated, responsive parenting, nutrition and hygiene: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2022 Jan 21;22(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s12887-021-03089-x.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 14, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Child Development; Stunting; Responsive Parenting
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Malnutrition; Child Nutrition Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01HD098255 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

Data collected for this study will be analyzed and stored on the on the REDCap platform and on Box, a secure, HIPAA and FERPA compliant data storage and online sharing platform. After the study is completed, the de-identified, archived data will be transmitted to and stored in a secure folder on Box; other researchers, including those outside of the study, who would want to use the deidentified data will only be able to access the data following approval from the PIs. Information pertaining to data sharing with other researchers is detailed during the informed consent process.

During the conduct of the study, an individual participant can choose to withdraw consent to have biological specimens stored for future research. However, withdrawal of consent with regard to biosample storage may not be possible after the study is completed.

When the study is completed, access to study data and/or samples will be provided through the approval of the PIs.

• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers wanting to use the data would have to contact the PIs and explain their purpose for using the data.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No