Maternal & Child Nutrition · 16 authors, 8 centres
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This cluster-randomized trial assessed a 3-year integrated poultry and nutrition intervention, with or without a WASH component, on child health in Burkina Faso. While the intervention increased caregiver knowledge of WASH-livestock risks and improved some livestock-hygiene practices, it did not improve child morbidity or anthropometric outcomes.
A 3-year cluster-randomized controlled trial in 120 villages in Burkina Faso evaluated the SELEVER intervention—a nutrition- and gender-sensitive poultry value chain program—alone or with an added WASH behavior change component. The study population included children aged 2-4 years. The primary analysis found no evidence of positive effects on child morbidity symptoms or anthropometric outcomes at endline. The intervention significantly increased caregiver knowledge of WASH-livestock risks and improved some practices, such as keeping children separated from poultry. However, exploratory analyses suggested a small, marginally significant negative effect on child height in the SELEVER+WASH group and an increased likelihood of reported diarrhea in the lean season. The authors attribute the null findings on child health to very low program participation, insufficient improvements in the overall WASH environment, and the older age of the children, who are past the critical window for linear growth response.
