Improving child nutrition and development through community-based childcare centres in Malawi - The NEEP-IE study: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background The Nutrition Embedded Evaluation Programme Impact Evaluation (NEEP-IE) study is a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the impact of a childcare centre-based integrated nutritional and agricultural intervention on the diets, nutrition and development of young children in Malawi. The intervention includes activities to improve nutritious food production and training/behaviour-change communication to improve food intake, care and hygiene practices. This paper presents the rationale and study design for this randomised control trial. Methods Sixty community-based childcare centres (CBCCs) in rural communities around Zomba district, Malawi, were randomised to either (1) a control group where children were attending CBCCs supported by Save the Children’s Early Childhood Health and Development (ECD) programme, or (2) an intervention group where nutritional and agricultural support activities were provided alongside the routine provision of the Save the Children’s ECD programme. Primary outcomes at child level include dietary intake (measured through 24-h recall), whilst secondary outcomes include child development (Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT)) and nutritional status (anthropometric measurements). At household level, primary outcomes include smallholder farmer production output and crop-mix (recall of last production season). Intermediate outcomes along theorised agricultural and nutritional pathways were measured. During this trial, we will follow a mixed-methods approach and undertake child-, household-, CBCC- and market-level surveys and assessments as well as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with project stakeholders. Discussion Assessing the simultaneous impact of preschool meals on diets, nutrition, child development and agriculture is a complex undertaking. This study is the first to explicitly examine, from a food systems perspective, the impact of a preschool meals programme on dietary choices, alongside outcomes in the nutritional, child development and agricultural domains. The findings of this evaluation will provide evidence to support policymakers in the scale-up of national programmes. Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ID: ISRCTN96497560 . Registered on 21 September 2016

Culture and capital decoupled : exploring the dynamics of peer-to-peer file sharing and copyright violation

Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-59).In this thesis the significance of casual copyright violation as enabled by the infrastructural fluidity of the internet is discussed (in particular, its most contemporary form, peer-to-peer file sharing). The aim of this discussion is to explore and promote a better understand of casual copyright violation, beyond the narrower conceptions challenged herein. The positions of progressive intellectual property advocates and of the intellectual property industry are presented, neither of whose analysis appears to rise above idealism or moralising. A triangulated research design was implemented, incorporating one-on-one qualitative interviews, a focus group and a survey of a student file-sharing population. I conclude that peer-to-peer file sharing is less significant as an individual choice than it is as a structural feature of the digital age

Alimentação de porcas gestantes e lactantes com dietas contendo saponinas Feeding sows in gestation and lactation with diets containing saponins

Foi realizado um experimento para avaliar o desempenho de porcas e suas leitegadas alimentadas com dietas que continham saponinas. Trinta porcas geneticamente homogêneas foram distribuídas em dois tratamentos, dieta testemunha e dieta testemunha com adição de 160ppm de fontes de saponinas. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, tendo como fator de bloqueamento a ordem de parto. Nas porcas, foram avaliados: o consumo de ração, características das fezes (cor e textura) e escore corporal. Nos leitões, foram avaliados: número de nascidos vivos, nascidos mortos, mumificados; pesos ao nascer e ao desmame e mortalidade na lactação. Não foram encontradas diferenças na cor das fezes das fêmeas. Na textura, as fezes das fêmeas que receberam a dieta com a adição de saponinas foram cerca de 11% mais duras (P<0,05). Na última semana de lactação, as fêmeas alimentadas com a adição de saponinas apresentaram um escore corporal 12% superior (P<0,05) às fêmeas controle. Não foram encontradas diferenças (P>0,05) nos leitões em relação as variáveis nascidos vivos, nascidos mortos e mumificados. Os leitões das fêmeas que receberam dietas contendo saponinas foram mais pesados (P<0,05) ao nascer (1,2 x 1,4kg) e ao desmame (5,5x 5,9kg). Porcas alimentadas nos últimos 10 dias de gestação e na lactação com dietas contendo 160ppm de saponinas têm melhor escore corporal no final da lactação e suas leitegadas são mais pesadas ao nascer e ao desmame.<br>An experiment was carried out to study the effect of saponins on sows and their piglets performances. Thirty genetically homogeneous sows were distributed in two treatments: one control diet (CD) and a CD plus 160ppm of saponins. The experimental design was a completely randomized block. The studied variables in sows were feed supply, fecal characteristics (color and texture) and corporal score. In the piglets the studied variables were mummified fetuses, stillborn, born alive and total born, birth and weaning weights. Were not found differences in color in sows feces. The fecal texture for sows that received diets with saponins was about 11% more solid (P<0.05). In the end of nursing the sows fed with saponins presented a corporal score 12% higher (P<0.05), compared to the control females. The piglets of sows that received diets with saponins presented higher weights on birth (1.2 x 1.4kg) and at weaning (5.5 x 5.9kg) weights, both at P<0.05. Sows fed in the last 10 days of gestation and during the nursing period with diets containing 160ppm of saponins, had better corporal score in the end of nursing and their piglets had higher birth and weaning weights

Additional file 1: of Improving child nutrition and development through community-based childcare centres in Malawi – The NEEP-IE study: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

The schedule of enrolment, interventions and assessments for the NEEP-IE study. (DOCX 14 kb