Effectiveness of Child Centered Counseling on Child Nutrition Status (LUCOMAI)

Effectiveness of Child Centered Counseling on Child Nutrition Status. A Cluster Randomized Trial in Rural Burkina Faso.

Hypothesis N°1: The "children growth promotion based on approach centered on their specific needs" enhances caretakers and health workers skills, knowledge and practices on breastfeeding, complementary feeding and child care. Hypothesis N°1: children growth promotion based on approach centered on their specific needs" approach improves children growth and health.

Cluster Randomized Trial,, Nutrition counseling,, Caretaker's knowledge, Child growth,, Prevention,, Acute malnutrition

- Preventive consultations will be reorganized. From the child birth, a follow-up schedule will be establish in agreement with the mother, and the subsequent appointment will be renew at each meeting. Ten contacts will be organized for children under two years. During the first year, the number of contacts will be limited to 6 at birth , 2 , 3, 4 and 9 months to complete the vaccination schedule and an additional contact at 7 months to allow monitoring during the introduction of complementary foods. Four contacts will be held for the second year to 12, 15, 18 and 24 months to monitor the transition from complementary food to the family diet. - Inclusion of Child Centered growth promotion approach. During preventive consultations, specific messages according to the child age, health and nutritional status will be developed, based on scientific evidences and adapted to the experience and knowledge of health workers.

-Inclusion Criteria: all women of childbearing age in the third trimester of pregnancy, living in the study area for at least one year at the time of the inclusion and who gave informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: