Adherence to small‐quantity lipid based nutrient supplement among young Burkinabe children (624.19)

Abstract

Background and objective: Adherence to recommended supplementation regimens can affect the impact of the product. Our objective was to compare different approaches for estimating adherence to small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements (SQ‐LNS) in a randomized clinical trial.Methods: 2453 children 9‐18mo of age were randomly assigned to receive daily 20g SQ‐LNS with varying contents of zinc. During weekly home visits, reported adherence was collected through caregiver interview and disappearance rate was calculated based on returned packages. In a randomly selected subgroup (n=192), consumption of SQ‐LNS was observed during 12h home visits in 11 and 16mo old children. At 15mo, an independent team interviewed caregivers about consumption of SQ‐LNS during the previous day/week (n=349).Results: Average daily reported adherence was 97% ± 6%. Disappearance rate also indicated high weekly adherence with 98% ± 5%. By contrast, home observation showed that only 58% and 48% of children at 11 and 16mo, respectively received SQ‐LNS during the observation periods (P visit time=0.51). This resulted in 50% difference between reported and observed consumption of SQ‐LNS. During the 15mo independent interview, mothers reported that 94% and 89% of children consumed the full dose of SQ‐LNS during the previous day/week, respectively.Conclusion: Discrepancy among results suggests possible over‐reporting of adherence to SQ‐LNS, and consumption by children outside the 12h home observation.Grant Funding Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation