Household Food Research Articles

The Dietary Intake of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months and their Hemoglobin Concentration, Central Highland Ethiopia, Community Based Baseline Data

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in young children has lacked attention and priority in developing countries where illiteracy is the greatest encumbrance in the community. This study aimed to assess the hemoglobin level (Hgb) and linear growth of children for baseline data for optional intervention.
 Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among women and their paired children. A multistage sampling method was involved in selecting the study area and 1012 mothers/caregivers and their paired children. Interviewed, blood samples, and anthropometry data were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Statistical significance was declared at P<0.05
 Results: All mothers with their paired children participated in the study. A high proportion (76.7%, n=776) of women aged 20 to 35 years and 505 (59.9%) of women had an awareness of IDA. The mean Hgb concentration of children was 128.23g/L (+ 17.3), and 184 (18.4 %) of the children had anemia, which was higher (24.1%) among age groups 6 -23 months. The highest proportion (42.1%, n = 426) of the children had stunted growth (Height for Age [HFA] Z score < -2 Standard Division [SD]) and a very high prevalence (24.6%, n = 251) of wasting (Weight for Height [WFH] Z score >-1SD) verified among children. The age of children is positively associated with Hgb level (β = 0.172, CI=0.01, 0.33). For a one-month increase in age, Hgb concentration increased by 0.170 mg/del.
 Conclusions: A very high growth defect and moderate IDA were observed among study subjects. Attentive intervention approaches are important in self-monitoring and a routine modification of used household foods in complementary feed with efficient iron nutrients to reduce growth defects.

SISTEM KOMUNIKASI PENGEMBANGAN PANGAN LOKAL DI PROVINSI MALUKU (KASUS PANGAN LOKAL ENBAL DI KABUPATEN MALUKU TENGGARA)

The people of Southeast Maluku Regency process bitter cassava as household food which is known as "enbal". Enbal is one of the local food resources that can be used as an alternative food ingredient in an effort to diversify food consumption. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the communication system in the development of local enbal food in Southeast Maluku Regency. The results of the study explain that food is an important and strategic commodity for the Indonesian people because it is a basic need that must be met by the government and society together. In developing local food, communication elements in community development must synergize with each other in building local food in order to lead to food self-sufficiency. The government's task in food affairs is to organize, regulate, develop, control and supervise the availability of food, one of which is carried out by issuing policies on food security. The private sector and the community participate in supporting the policy

The relationship between women's empowerment and household food and nutrition security in Pakistan.

Women’s empowerment is considered to play a crucial role in food and nutrition security. We aimed to explore the relationship between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security, in rural Pakistan. Methods: To estimate women’s empowerment, we developed a Rural Women Composite Empowerment Index incorporating nine domains. For indicators of food and nutritional data we used data of 1879 rural households from Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey (PRHPS). Food insecurity was measured through a caloric intake approach; nutrition insecurity was measured through recommended nutrient intake (RNI). Using the Rural Women’s Composite Empowerment Index (RWCEI), we employed multi-level mixed-effect regression analysis. Results: The domains of traveling safely (21%), time allocated to tasks (20%), and (lack of) domestic violence (19%) were the most significant domains in defining empowerment of rural woman. The prevalence of food and nutrition insecurity were 33% and 50% respectively. Regression analysis found a positive and significant relationship between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security–the proportion of household who were food and nutritionally secure in empowered households was 70% and 98% respectively. Conclusions: Developing programmes and policies to improve the range of domains of women’s empowerment requires a focussed policy agenda, bringing together policy makers from a number of different sectors including education, economy, communications, technology and agriculture. Women’s empowerment has the potential to make positive changes not only in food and nutrition security, but in all aspects of family health and wellbeing.

Using assets as resilience capacities for stabilizing food demand of vulnerable households

In the absence of governmental welfare support, assets have an important role in determining the capacity of vulnerable households of being resilient against economic shocks affecting their food needs. By focusing on the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, this paper analyses household responses in food demand to shocks affecting their food purchases. We analyze the effects of non-agricultural assets, livestock ownership, and crop stocks on stabilizing poor household's food demand by integrating them as proxies for resilience capacities into a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System. We find that those non-agricultural assets mostly reduce the sensitivity of demand of poor households for protein foods, pulses, and greens. Hence, poor households' demand for core nutrition items can be made more robust to shocks if their endowment of non-agricultural assets that raises their resilience capacities is improved. This can be achieved by establishing insurance packages as in the case of weather index-based insurance for smallholder farmers, or upscaling interventions that increase and stabilize households' assets.

Food insecurity, diet quality, and suboptimal diabetes management among US adults with diabetes

IntroductionA healthy diet is recommended to support diabetes management, including HbA1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol (ABC) control, but food insecurity is a barrier to consuming a healthy diet. We determined...

Analisis struktur pengeluaran rumah tangga di Provinsi Jambi Tahun 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of household groups on the structure of household expenditures. The data used in this study is the March 2020 Susenas raw data, namely Susenas data on household scores in 11 districts and cities of Jambi Province. The data analysis method used is descriptive method. The analytical tool used is Multiple Linear Regression (multiple regression). The results showed that in the upper urban household group, the independent variables were: household income, number of household members, age of the head of the household, education level of the head of the household, gender of the head of the household, the status of the head of the household in the main occupation, and the status of the household head. marriage of the head of the household can explain household non-food competition by 94.3 percent and together the independent variables can have an influence on household non-food expenditure. In the lower urban household group, the independent variables cannot explain expenditures other than household food because they only have an R2 value of 2.7 and together the independent variables also cannot have an effect on expenditures other than household food. As well as in the upper rural household group, the independent variable can explain household non-food competition by 65.5 percent and the independent variable can have an influence on household non-food expenditure.

Sorghum as a household food and livelihood security crop under climate change in South Africa: A review

Extreme events, declining rainfall and increasing temperatures under climate change threaten smallholder households’ food and livelihoods security. The potential of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) to contribute to food security and livelihoods of smallholders in South Africa has not been realised, despite its resilience to heat and drought, due to its marginalisation in research, breeding, the scale of production, and policy support. Consequently, to reduce vulnerability and boost sorghum’s position as a key climate change adaptation crop, in this review we examined some biophysical, socio-economic, socio-cultural and institutional barriers that constrain its production and performance on smallholder farms in South Africa. We further suggest pertinent issues to be addressed to improve production and productivity on smallholder farms. Increasing awareness, policy development and support, and capacitation of extension services, as well as improving market access, agronomic and cultural practices, and availability of more locally adapted sorghum varieties are requisite factors in addressing the prevailing constraints limiting sorghum production. Furthermore, tailored and site-specific studies at farm and landscape level are imperative for informed management and decision support. Thus, an integrated and multidisciplinary approach is key in fostering significant improvement in sorghum production and performance in smallholder systems in South Africa to reduce climate change vulnerability. Significance: Sorghum has the potential to bolster food and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in South Africa. Socio-economic, socio-cultural and biophysical challenges limit sorghum production and performance in South Africa. An integrated and multidisciplinary approach is required to optimise the opportunities to improve sorghum production and performance in South Africa.

The Association of Women's Participation in Farmer-Based Organizations with Female and Male Empowerment and its Implication for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Interventions in Rural Ghana

ABSTRACTBackgroundFew studies have examined the influence of women's participation in farmer groups on female and male empowerment, which is considered essential to improving nutrition.ObjectivesThe study aimed to 1) assess the empowerment of Ghanaian women farmers, 1 adult male family decision-maker per household, and the household gender equality; and 2) investigate the relation of empowerment and household gender equality with women's participation in farmer-based organizations (FBOs), women's and men's nutritional status, and household food security.MethodsA cross-sectional study investigated secondary outcomes using baseline data from a nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention implemented through FBOs in rural Ghana. Existing FBOs in 8 communities were selected based on 6 criteria (e.g., participation level, readiness to change). Female FBO (n = 166) and non-FBO (n = 164) members together with a male family member (n = 205) provided data on individual and household characteristics; empowerment was measured across 11 indicators with the project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index. Generalized linear mixed models tested the associations of empowerment and household gender equality with FBO membership, nutritional status, and household food security.ResultsWomen's FBO membership was associated with an increased likelihood of women's empowerment [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.25; 95% CI: 1.97, 5.33] and household gender parity (aOR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.84) but not men's empowerment. Household food insecurity, but not nutritional status, was positively associated with women's FBO participation and individual empowerment indicators (financial services). Food insecurity was negatively associated with the women's empowerment indicator related to attitudes about domestic violence [adjusted β coefficient (aβ): −0.78; 95% CI: −1.35, −0.21] and men's overall empowerment (aβ: −0.79; 95% CI: −1.58, −0.01).ConclusionsUnderstanding the complexity in which FBO participation, empowerment, nutritional status, and food security are linked is critical in designing interventions that promote gender equality and improved nutrition.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03869853.

Adoption of artificial insemination technology and its intensity of use in Eastern Tigray National Regional State of Ethiopia

BackgroundThe study was focused on the adoption and intensity of adoption of artificial insemination (AI) Technology in Saesie-tsaedaemba District of Tigray Region, Ethiopia. AI is one of the most important and valuable dairy technology that has been used for genetic improvement for several years in the study area. However, there was little empirical information about major factors affecting adoption decision and intensity of AI in the study area. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of AI technology adoption and its intensity and to identify major factors influencing the adoption and intensity of use of AI technology.MethodsA multistage sampling technique was applied to select study sites and sample households. A structured interview was used to collect data from a total of 204 sample farmers. Besides, key informants interview was used to triangulate, validate, and enrich the findings of the household interview.ResultsResults of the tobit model regression revealed that households’ level of literacy, milk yield, income, training, access to extension service, mobile ownership, supplementation of concentrated feed and hybrid cattle ownership were found to have a positive and statistically significant relationship with adoption and intensity of AI technology, whereas distance to farmer training centre (FTC) office had shown a negative relationship.ConclusionsAdoption of context-based AI technology plays a paramount importance in achieving farm household's food security. The extension system should give more emphasis to the capacity building which is pivotal for introducing, adoption, and scaling out of best practices of dairy technologies. Besides the effort of the government, the participation of the private sector in AI technology is important to achieve wider adoption of AI technology.

Crop commercialization and nutrient intake among farming households in Uganda

Agricultural commercialization is expected to enhance a wide array of household welfare indicators, notably, nutrition. Using LSMS-ISA survey data for Uganda, this paper examines the channels through which household nutrient intake is influenced under crop commercialization. A control function was employed to address issues of endogeneity, while the Generalized Propensity Score technique was used to estimate the continuous treatment effects. The results show that commercialization mainly affects nutrient intake through the resulting crop income. From a gender perspective, the findings show that female control of farm income positively and significantly affects the overall nutrient intake. The findings point to three important implications. First, interventions geared towards agricultural commercialization are beneficial to household nutrition via income generation. Given this income-nutrition linkage, proactive steps towards support for nutrition-sensitive commercial agriculture are needed to ensure that nutrient-rich foods are available on the market. Second, there is the need to improve knowledge and perception of what constitutes a good diet. This would provide a stronger linkage between agricultural production, income, and nutrition. Third, gender relations in a household are critical for nutrition outcomes. As such, measures which can empower women to own and control key agricultural production assets are needed to reinforce the link between commercialization and nutrition.

Main Retailers In Which Mexican Households Acquire Their Food Supply

ObjectiveTo describe the frequency of food and beverages purchased made by Mexican households at different types of grocery retailers. DesignA national cross-sectional survey. SettingMexico. ParticipantsA representative sample of Mexican households (n = 70,311). Main Outcome Measure(s)Household food and beverages purchases. AnalysisThe association between amounts of food and beverages supply bought in different food retailers (as outcome) and households’ sociodemographic characteristics (as covariates) was assessed using logistic and linear regression models. ResultsMexican households acquired their food and beverages primarily from abarrotes stores, followed by supermarkets and mercados and tianguis. Abarrotes stores and supermarkets were sources of unprocessed and processed foods. Specialized stores, mercados, and tianguis were primary sources of unprocessed foods. Households with low socioeconomic status and those in the central or southern regions acquired more foods from abarrotes stores, mercados and tianguis, and specialized stores. Households with high socioeconomic status and living in the northern region acquired more foods from supermarkets and convenience stores. Conclusions and ImplicationsAbarrotes stores are the primary source of food and beverages for Mexican households; however, some interventions are needed to increase their supply of unprocessed foods. Public health interventions aiming at increasing access to unprocessed foods could be done through traditional retailers.

Gender and sociocultural factors in animal source foods (ASFs) access and consumption in lower-income households in urban informal settings of Nairobi, Kenya

BackgroundGender shapes household decision-making and access for nutritious diets, including animal source foods (ASFs) that impact on child health and nutrition status. However, research shows that the poorest households in the urban informal settlements of Nairobi have low ASFs consumption. This study was conducted to explore further from a qualitative perspective the gender, sociocultural factors affecting household ASF consumption this study.MethodsTo explore further on the topic of study, an exploratory qualitative study was carried out to establish the factors that influence access, allocation and consumption of animal source foods (ASFs) by households in urban informal settings of Nairobi. Nineteen focus group discussions with men and women were conducted to enable in-depth exploration of ASFs consumption.ResultsGender influences decision-making of household ASFs dietary intake. Gendered power dynamics prevail with men as breadwinners and household heads often determining the food access and consumption of ASFs. Women are increasingly accessing short-term waged-based incomes in urban informal settings and now play a role in food and nutrition security for their households. This enforces the idea that women’s decision-making autonomy is an important aspect of women empowerment, as it relates to women’s dietary diversity and subsequently, better household nutritional status. As evidenced in this study, if a woman has bargaining power based on accessing incomes to support their household food needs, she will not jeopardize food security. The mobile digital money platform was key in enabling access to resources to access food. Use of trust to access food on credit and purchasing smaller packaged quantities of food were also enablers to access of food/ASFs.

O08 A Mixed Method Study of Whether Appalachian Ohioans Conceptualize Food Security in Alignment with the Prevailing Measure

<h3>Background</h3> In the US, food security is monitored annually via the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). The measure focuses primarily on a household's monetary means. There is heightened interest in developing food security measures that embody more nuanced conceptualizations of household food security. <h3>Objective</h3> To explore whether current conceptualizations of food insecurity among a rural Appalachian sample diverge from HFSSM constructs. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> A study recruitment postcard was mailed to all residential addresses in the Athens County region of Appalachian Ohio in late June 2020. Adult recipients were first invited to complete quarterly surveys, containing a demographic questionnaire and the HFSSM, for one year. Based on HFSSM-based food security categorizations, a purposively selected sub-sample of respondents were invited for in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 16, May-June 2021). Our maximal variation sample included households demonstrating consistent food security (n = 7, 44%), transient insecurity (n = 5, 31%), and persistent insecurity (n = 4, 25%). Interviewees reflected on whether the HFSSM-based status aligned with how they would characterize their household's food security status. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Verbatim transcripts were coded in NVivo and themes identified via template analysis, a process that leveraged both a priori codes (based on HFSSM constructs) and emergent codes reflecting measure-diverging constructs. <h3>Results</h3> While individuals characterized their food insecurity experiences in partial convergence with the HFSSM measure (e.g., noting insufficient money for food), there were several diverging themes. Food security was primarily discussed through a communal, and notably non-monetary, lens in which food reciprocity (e.g., bartering), collective responsibility (i.e., thinking beyond one's own household), and resourcefulness (e.g., gardening) defined their food (in)security experience. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study demonstrates that food security may be conceptualized in ways that account for non-monetary assets and embody a communal ideology. The development and testing of a food security measure containing items in line with these constructs may be warranted for – and help to capture food insecurity more accurately in – rural regions where traditions of resourcefulness and reciprocity persist. <h3>Funding</h3> NIH; The Ohio State University's Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; The Ohio State University's Office of Outreach and Engagement; Clinical Research Center/Center for Clinical Research Management of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Impact of climate variability on household food security in Godere District, Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Agriculture and food security are most vulnerable to climate variability and extremes. Climate variability and extremes increased the risks of food security in Gambella region. The study examines the impact of climate variability on household food security in Godere district, Ethiopia. In this research data were collected from different set of sources using various tools such as questionnaire survey, key informant interview, and focus group discussion. Meteorological data from Ethiopian National Meteorological Agency were also used. Rotated Empirical Orthogonal Function (REOF) was used to investigate the spatio-temporal variation of rainfall, whereas, household data were analysed using correlation, percentage, mean and binary logistic regression. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) tool was used to determine household food security status. The result reveals that the study site has experienced spatio-temporal rainfall variability with various degrees and widespread household food insecurity. The result shows that 11.2% and 88.8% of the sample households were food secure and food insecure respectively. The HFIAS result shows the households’ food insecurity ranges from severe (17.2%) to moderate (19%) and mild (17.2%) levels. The study concludes unfavourable climatic conditions combined with the lack of necessary households’ resource endowments, adversely affects the household’s food security. We argue that ensuring the household's food security status requires attention towards mitigating climate shocks and improving households’ access to basic infrastructure services and facilities.

The relationships between socioeconomic status, dietary knowledge and patterns, and physical activity with adiposity in urban South African women

Background: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), dietary knowledge and patterns, and physical activity level with body mass index of urban South African young women. Methods: Data were collected on 160 black South African women (aged 18–24 years) and included household SES, food frequency and nutritional knowledge questionnaires, self-reported physical activity and anthropometry. To assess household SES index, 1–7 assets were categorised as a lower household SES and those with 8–13 assets as a higher household SES. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to determine the direct, indirect and total effects on adiposity of household SES, age, education, nutrition knowledge score, dietary patterns and physical activity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was similar among women from high SES households compared with their low SES peers (48.4 vs. 44.8%). More than half (53%) of the women had poor dietary knowledge. Women from low SES households spent more time in moderate to vigorous intensity exercise (MVPA) compared with their high SES counterparts. Two distinct dietary patterns (Western and mixed) were identified. SEM results show that a unit increase in adherence to the ‘Mixed’ dietary pattern compared with ‘Western’ was associated with a 0.81 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −1.54; −0.08), while ≥ 150 minutes’ MVPA per week was associated with a 1.94 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −3.48; −0.41). Conclusion: The associations of SES, diet and physical activity on BMI must be taken into account when developing and designing interventions that target improvement in young women’s health.

Leveraging farm production diversity for dietary diversity: evidence from national level panel data

Dietary diversity is the key to improved health and nutrition. Farm production diversity has the potential of enhancing dietary diversity but this interrelationship varies and is ambiguous in many societies. To examine the effect of farm production diversity on household dietary diversity using nationally representative panel data of Bangladesh we have used Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) data collected by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in 2011/12, 2015 and 2018/19. Total sample size is 11,720. For assessing dietary diversity we have used different indicators namely household dietary diversity score (HDDS) and food variety score (FVS). We have also used multiple methods for measuring farm production diversity including production diversity score, crop diversity score and Simpson diversification index. Poisson regression model has been used. Results revealed a strong positive association among farm production diversity, income and dietary diversity though the extent of the association is small. The variables such as market orientation, access to market, age and education are also found to influence on household dietary diversity. Our results propose that for increasing dietary diversity efforts should be taken to increase farm production diversity combined with diverse income and market access.

Introducing grain legumes for crop diversification and sustainable food production systems amongst urban small-holder farmers: a food and nutrition security project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

ABSTRACT A study was conducted at Marianhill, north-west of Durban, South Africa, characterized by food insecurity and malnutrition. The study objectives were to introduce grain legume varieties; determine grain legume yields and improve legume consumption; train farmers on nutrition-sensitive sustainable food production. The project monitored the study objectives through an operationalized developed and implemented education program over a two-year period. Grain legumes used were Phaseolus vulgaris L, Cicer arietinum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna radiate, Vigna unguiculata and Vigna subterranean. High significant differences among six varieties were observed. P. vulgaris L produced highest yield compared with other varieties. Women produced significantly higher yields compared with men. Results indicated improved legume consumption from once a week (77.4%) to 2–3 times (77.1%) a week, whilst consumption of 4–5 times a week improved from 3.8% to 22.9%. The study demonstrated that integrating grain legumes into small-holder monoculture urban cropping systems might be a viable option for sustainable food production and household food and nutrition security.

Smallholder Coffee in the Global Economy—A Framework to Explore Transformation Alternatives of Traditional Agroforestry for Greater Economic, Ecological, and Livelihood Viability

Sixty percent of global coffee is produced from farms of &amp;lt;5 ha. Studies show that returns from such farms do not generate a living income for producers or workers threatening supplies. Smallholders use agroforestry to reduce coffee production costs, diversify income and address livelihood needs. We undertook a three-phase analysis to test the following hypothesis. Current coffee agroforestry must shift from a low labor, low risk-stable return, slowly-changing matrix to more active management of species and stem turnover in system renovation cycles targeted to sustaining, reorienting and intensifying ecosystem-based benefits to coffee production, diversified income and household food. First, we conducted a document survey of current traditional tree diversity, research trends, and market drivers for more benefits-oriented agroforestry. Second, we proposed a framework for multiple benefits quantification converting tree use characteristics and density into five categories of benefits, each with sub-categories which we tested using previously collected data of stem density by species from coffee agroforestry in northern Nicaragua. Third, we modeled radiation in mixed canopy scenarios using the program SExI- FS based on modifications of species and density to target food and income diversification and tested our framework by quantifying benefits. We found that smallholder coffee faces farms decreasing coffee margins, labor scarcity, new pests and climate variability best addressed with targeted and adaptive shifts in coffee varieties and associated trees. Increasing data demands from certification and regulations provide a basis more data-driven coffee farm management. Our data bases of stem density by species of established agroforestry systems were sufficient to identify gaps in food and income benefits which were addressed in the scenarios thereby verifying the hypothesis. The benefits ranking both of current systems and three scenarios also provided insights into data collection specifications for a more rigorous academic test of the hypothesis and data-driven grower strategies for agroforestry transformation.

Prevalence of household food insecurity in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from panel data

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global problem that confronted the economy and household food security of many countries. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of a household's food insecurity status in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. A panel data of 2,410 households in a six-round High-Frequency Phone Survey were retrieved from the World Bank database. The product of the corresponding pairwise severity weight and household responses to each coping strategy was summed up to get the individual's Coping Strategy Index. The Random Effect Model (REM) for panel data analysis was used to identify factors associated with household-related food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The descriptive statistics result shows that 18.63% and 11.08% of rural households and 56.55% and 38.13% of urban residents were food secure in the first and sixth rounds, respectively. On the contrary, 3.65% and 3.2% of rural households and 6.8% and 7.18% of urban households experienced severe food insecurity from the first to the sixth round, respectively. Most households have maintained their food security in urban areas than rural residents. However, the number of food secure households was gradually reduced from Round-1 to Round-6. Besides, REM output indicates that access to financial services, farm income, wage employment, income from property, investment, and savings, and NGO assistance negatively affected household's food insecurity. Whereas government support showed a positive association with households' food insecurity. Based on the findings, we recommend that households should adopt the behavior of enhancing and diversifying their sources of income, and the government also emphasize the establishment of national social security services by taking experience from NGOs’ emergency response mechanisms.

Flexibility and resistance exercises versus usual care for improving pain and function after distal radius fracture in adults aged 50 years or over: protocol for the WISE randomised multicentre feasibility trial

BackgroundDistal radius fractures represent about 1 in 5 of all fractures treated in UK hospitals. Most distal radius fractures occur in women aged 50 years or over after a fall. Distal radius fractures are managed using splints or casting, some are also treated with surgical fixation. Patients often experience long-term muscle weakness of the hand and arm that may impact their ability to do daily activities such as personal hygiene, routine household chores and food preparation. We propose a structured and tailored flexibility and resistance exercise programme for the hand and arm supplemented with behaviour change strategies to help perform daily exercise. The main aim of our study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial.MethodsThis study is a multicentre, parallel-group individually randomised feasibility trial. We will recruit a minimum of 72 adults aged 50 years or over with distal radius fracture treated surgically or non-surgically from at least three UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. They will be randomised 1:1:1 to receive usual care, usual care and independent exercise with a single therapy session or usual care and supervised exercise with three therapy sessions over 12 weeks. Our primary feasibility objectives are (1) patient engagement assessed by recruitment, (2) acceptability of the interventions assessed by adherence and patient and clinician experience and (3) retention of participants in the trial. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, 3 months and at 6 months after randomisation. A qualitative sub-study will explore the experiences of the trial participants and therapists delivering the exercises.DiscussionA definitive trial will be considered feasible without major modifications if our progression criteria are met. If successful, the findings will inform the design of a future definitive RCT to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the WISE exercise programme.Trial registrationISRCTN12290145.