Implementation Research on Linking the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition and Integrated Community Case Management: A Cluster Randomized Trial in Turkana and Isiolo Counties, Kenya

Severely malnourished children have a higher risk of death from common childhood illness such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and malaria. In many poor countries, the majority of acutely malnourished children are never brought to health facilities or arrive too late. Barriers to seeking timely treatment are often related to cost and travel required to reach the nearest health facility.

These challenges call for an approach with a strong community component to reach sick and malnourished children. Integrated community case management (iCCM) is a strategy that utilizes community health volunteers to diagnose and treat multiple conditions, most commonly pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria, in children under five years. An integrated approach to addressing the twin problems of disease and malnutrition would make it possible to address the presenting and underlying aspects of a child’s illness.

This implementation research study aims to generate evidence that will inform the development of policy and practice regarding the possible integration of management of acute malnutrition into iCCM. This study is being conducted in Kenya’s Turkana and Isiolo Counties which have a high prevalence of malnutrition and low access to health facilities due to distance.

PROJECT PERIOD

• Start: August 2017
• End: August 2019

PROJECT FUNDER/S

• UNICEF

PROJECT TEAM

Principal Investigator

• Elizabeth Kimani (PhD), African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Kenya

Co – Principal investigator

• Hermann Pythagore Pierre Donfouet (PhD), APHRC, Kenya

Co-Investigators

• Tewoldeberha Daniel, United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF), Kenya
• Betty Samburu, Ministry of Health (MoH), Kenya
• Pilar Charle Cuellar, Action Against Hunger (AAH), Madrid Spain
• Regina Mbochi, Save the Children, Kenya
• James Njiru, AAH, Kenya

Technical Advisory Group

• Lucy Wangare, MoH, Kenya
• Lydia Karimurio MoH, Kenya
• Olivia Agutu MoH, Kenya
• Lucy Gathigi Maina MoH, Kenya
• Peter Okoth MoH, Kenya
• Judith Raburu MoH, Kenya

Technical Research Team

• Milka Wanjohi, APHRC, Kenya
• Triza Machanria, APHRC, Kenya
• Peter Muriuki, APHRC, Kenya
• Elizabeth Mwaniki, APHRC, Kenya