Formulation and acceptability of local nutrient-dense foods for young children: A formative study for the Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN) Trial in rural Zimbabwe.

Stunting affects almost one-quarter of children globally, leading to reduced human capacity and increased long-term risk of chronic disease. Despite intensive infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions, many children do not meet their requirements for essential nutrients. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an IYCF intervention utilizing nutrient-dense powders from egg, biofortified sugar beans and Moringa oleifera leaf in rural Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods formative study was conducted comprising the following: (i) a recipe formulation trial, (ii) trials of improved practices to assess acceptability of the intervention, and (iii) a participatory message formulation process to develop counselling modules for the IYCF-plus intervention. Twenty-seven mother-baby pairs were recruited between November 2019 and April 2020. Key domains affecting IYCF practices that emerged were time, emotional and physical space, cultural and religious beliefs, indigenous knowledge systems and gender dynamics. Household observations and sensory evaluation indicated high acceptability of the new ingredients. Recipe formulation and participatory message formulation by participants instilled community ownership and served to demystify existing misconceptions about the new food products. Families noted the potential for intervention sustainability because the foods could be grown locally. Supplementing complementary foods with nutrient-dense local food ingredients as powders has the potential to sustainably address nutrient-gaps in the diets of young children living in rural lower- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive IYCF counselling utilizing a gender-lens approach, family support and indigenous knowledge systems or resources are key elements to support positive behaviour change in complementary feeding interventions.

The Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) Trial: Protocol for school-age follow-up.

Background: There is a need for follow-up of early-life stunting intervention trials into childhood to determine their long-term impact. A holistic school-age assessment of health, growth, physical and cognitive function will help to comprehensively characterise the sustained effects of early-life interventions. Methods: The Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial in rural Zimbabwe assessed the effects of improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and/or improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) on stunting and anaemia at 18 months. Among children enrolled to SHINE, 1,275 have been followed up at 7-8 years of age (1,000 children who have not been exposed to HIV, 268 exposed to HIV antenatally who remain HIV negative and 7 HIV positive children). Children were assessed using the School-Age Health, Activity, Resilience, Anthropometry and Neurocognitive (SAHARAN) toolbox, to measure their growth, body composition, cognitive and physical function. In parallel, a caregiver questionnaire assessed household demographics, socioeconomic status, adversity, nurturing, caregiver support, food and water insecurity. A monthly morbidity questionnaire is currently being administered by community health workers to evaluate school-age rates of infection and healthcare-seeking. The impact of the SHINE IYCF and WASH interventions, the early-life 'exposome', maternal HIV, and contemporary exposures on each school-age outcome will be assessed. We will also undertake an exploratory factor analysis to generate new, simpler metrics for assessment of cognition (COG-SAHARAN), growth (GROW-SAHARAN) and combined growth, cognitive and physical function (SUB-SAHARAN). The SUB-SAHARAN toolbox will be used to conduct annual assessments within the SHINE cohort from ages 8-12 years. Ethics and dissemination: Approval was obtained from Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (08/02/21) and registered with Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202201828512110, 24/01/22). Primary caregivers provided written informed consent and children written assent. Findings will be disseminated through community sensitisation, peer-reviewed journals and stakeholders including the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care.

The Friendship Bench as a brief psychological intervention with peer support in rural Zimbabwean women: a mixed methods pilot evaluation.

BACKGROUND: There is a large treatment gap for common mental disorders in rural areas of low-income countries. We tested the Friendship Bench as a brief psychological intervention delivered by village health workers (VHWs) in rural Zimbabwe. METHODS: Rural women identified with depression in a previous trial received weekly home-based problem-solving therapy from VHWs for 6 weeks, and joined a peer-support group. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ). Acceptability was explored through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The proportion of women with depression pre- and post-intervention was compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS: Ten VHWs delivered problem-solving therapy to 27 women of mean age 33 years; 25 completed six sessions. Women valued an established and trustful relationship with their VHW, which ensured confidentiality and prevented gossip, and reported finding individual problem-solving therapy beneficial. Peer-support meetings provided space to share problems, solutions and skills. The proportion of women with depression or suicidal ideation on the EPDS declined from 68% to 12% [difference 56% (95% confidence interval (CI) 27.0-85.0); p = 0.001], and the proportion scoring high (>7) on the SSQ declined from 52% to 4% [difference 48% (95% CI 24.4-71.6); p < 0.001] after the 6-week intervention. CONCLUSION: VHW-delivered problem-solving therapy and peer-support was acceptable and showed promising results in this pilot evaluation, leading to quantitative and qualitative improvements in mental health among rural Zimbabwean women. Scale-up of the Friendship Bench in rural areas would help close the treatment gap for common mental disorders.