Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of daily text messages as a means to improve caregivers’ adherence to infant micronutrient powder (MNP) in rural Shaanxi Province of China.Methodology638 infants aged 6–11 months in 234 villages were involved in a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT). All caregivers were given free infant MNP packets at baseline in April 2013 and the follow-up survey was in July 2013. We randomly assigned 318 infants in 117 villages to treatment group (receiving daily text message) and 320 infants in the other 117 villages as control group.ResultsOn average, daily text messages increased the number of MNP packets fed (marginal effect = 4.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.16, 9.10). The text message is more likely to increase the consumption of MNP packets if the primary caregiver was the mother (marginal effect = 12.19; 95% CI = 0.69, 23.68). Receiving the text message appears to significantly increase the likelihood of full adherence when the primary caregiver can either check (odds ratio = 2.93; 95% CI = 1.34, 6.40) or knows how to send (odds ratio = 3.26; 95% CI = 1.53, 6.97) text messages.ConclusionDaily text messages improved the consumption of infant MNP packets. However, the impact was not large enough to increase the probability of caregivers being fully adherent to the feeding instruction, which is to feed 5–7 packets per week as recommended. In addition, when the mother is the caregiver and when the caregiver can check or knows how to send text messages there is greater adherence by the primary caregivers.Trial registrationhttp://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN44149146
Highlights
Malnutrition kills or disables millions of children every year, and prevents millions more from reaching their full intellectual and productive potential [1,2]
Daily text messages increased the number of micronutrient powder (MNP) packets fed (marginal effect = 4.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.16, 9.10)
The text message is more likely to increase the consumption of MNP packets if the primary caregiver was the mother
Summary
Malnutrition kills or disables millions of children every year, and prevents millions more from reaching their full intellectual and productive potential [1,2]. Childhood malnutrition is associated with adverse outcomes in school-aged children and adolescents, including an increased prevalence of conduct problems (such as bullying and cheating) and aggressive behaviors [3]. Children, undernourished between conception and age two, are at higher risk of impaired cognitive development, which adversely affects a country’s productivity [4]. The Chinese Food and Nutrition Surveillance System found that anemia prevalence among infants aged 6–11 months in rural areas was around 28% in 2010 [5]. Other more geographically focused studies have found anemia prevalence ranging from 22.6% in Guangxi Province [6] to 58.2% in Gansu Province [7] among the same age group
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