Multidomain Intervention for Growth in Term Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Ranadip Chowdhury, Rukman Manapurath, Ravi Prakash Upadhyay et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the impact of a multidomain intervention on growth and neurodevelopment in term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants in South Delhi, India. A total of 1300 infants were randomized to receive either the intervention or usual care. At 12 months, the intervention group had a mean weight of 8.0 kg compared to 7.8 kg in the usual care group, with significant improvements in weight-for-age z scores and reduced prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, and anemia.
Key findings
- Mean weight at 12 months was 8.0 kg in the intervention group vs 7.8 kg in usual care (mean difference, 0.22 kg).
- Weight-for-age z score improved from -1.6 in usual care to -1.3 in the intervention group (mean difference, 0.24).
- Prevalence of anemia was significantly lower in the intervention group at 34.0% vs 72.5% in usual care (risk difference, -38.49 percentage points).
- Cognitive scores were higher in the intervention group by a mean difference of 1.73.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that integrated interventions can significantly enhance growth and neurodevelopment in term SGA infants, addressing critical health disparities in low-resource settings. This approach may inform future pediatric care strategies for vulnerable populations.